By Yarima Haruna
An Islamic cleric, Malam Musa Lukwa, was on Friday stabbed shortly after leading the Juma’at prayer at his mosque in Mabera, Sokoto metropolis, in an incident that sparked tension across parts of the city.
The attacker, said to be a young man among the worshippers, allegedly stabbed the cleric twice in the neck before other worshippers overpowered him and killed him.
The attack was reportedly linked to a previous sermon delivered by the cleric, which some Islamic scholars and their followers considered offensive to the parents of Prophet Muhammad.
The sermon had earlier generated controversy and threats against the cleric and one of his senior students.
A man identified as Mai Barewa was reportedly arrested and arraigned before a court over the threats, with the case still pending.
Sources said the cleric and his followers had also submitted a written complaint to the Sokoto State Government four days before Friday’s attack, expressing concern over the threats.
Confirming the incident, the spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, said Lukwa was receiving treatment at the Specialist Hospital, Sokoto.
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“The cleric was stabbed and has been taken to the Specialist Hospital, Sokoto, where he is receiving treatment and responding to treatment,” Rufa’i said.
He added that the suspected attacker was killed by followers of the cleric, saying no arrest had been made in connection with the subsequent violence.
According to him, the command had deployed measures to prevent the incident from escalating, while investigation was ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack and identify those involved.
Meanwhile, news of the cleric’s survival reportedly triggered protests by some youths in parts of the metropolis.
The development created tension in areas including Sahara, Bello Way and Aliyu Jodi, with several traders closing their shops for fear of attacks.
Some residents were also seen leaving commercial areas as security operatives moved into strategic locations to maintain peace and prevent a breakdown of law and order.
The police urged residents to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into their own hands while investigation into the incident continues.
