Cleric Stabbed After Friday Prayer in Sokoto

Tension rose in Sokoto on Friday after an Islamic cleric, Malam Musa Lukwa, was stabbed right after leading the Juma’at prayer at his mosque in the Mabera area of the city.

The attacker, said to be a young man among the worshippers, allegedly stabbed the cleric twice in the neck. Other worshippers quickly overpowered him and killed him in the process.

This attack seems linked to a sermon the cleric gave earlier, which some Islamic scholars and followers found offensive to the parents of Prophet Muhammad. This sermon had already caused unrest, with a man named Mai Barewa allegedly threatening the cleric and one of his senior students.

Mai Barewa was later arrested and taken to court. The case is still ongoing.

Just four days before the stabbing, the cleric and his followers had submitted a written complaint to the Sokoto State Government. They were worried about the threats they faced.

The spokesman for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, confirmed that the cleric was receiving treatment at the Specialist Hospital, Sokoto.

He mentioned that the suspected attacker was killed by the cleric’s followers after the stabbing. Rufa’i said, “The cleric was stabbed and has been taken to the Specialist Hospital, Sokoto, where he is receiving treatment and responding to treatment.”

He added, “The suspect was killed by the cleric’s followers, and no arrest has been made in connection with the ensuing violence.” The police are taking steps to prevent further violence while investigating the circumstances of the attack and identifying those involved.

In the meantime, news that the cleric had survived the attack sparked protests by some youths in different parts of the metropolis. This situation increased tension in areas like Sahara, Bello Way, and Aliyu Jodi, making many shop owners close their businesses to avoid possible attacks.

Residents were seen leaving some commercial areas as security forces moved into key locations to keep the peace. The police asked residents to stay calm and not take the law into their own hands while the investigation continues.