Sokoto Cleric Stabbed After Friday Prayer, Suspect Killed by Followers

Tension was reported in parts of Sokoto metropolis on Friday after an Islamic cleric, Malam Musa Lukuwa, was attacked and stabbed shortly after leading the Juma’at prayer at his mosque in the Mabera area of the city.

The cleric was reportedly attacked by a young man believed to be among the worshippers at the mosque.

According to reports, the suspect allegedly stabbed Lukuwa twice in the neck before he was overpowered by the cleric’s followers, who subsequently killed him.

The incident was reportedly connected to a previous sermon delivered by the cleric, which some Islamic scholars and their followers had considered offensive to the parents of Prophet Muhammad.

The sermon had earlier generated controversy and tension, with a man identified as Mai Barewa reportedly threatening the cleric and one of his senior students.

Mai Barewa was later arrested and arraigned before a court, with the case said to be ongoing.

Sources also said Lukuwa and his followers submitted a written complaint to the Sokoto State Government four days before Friday’s attack, expressing concern over alleged threats against them.

Confirming the attack, the spokesman for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, said the cleric was receiving treatment at the Specialist Hospital, Sokoto.

“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 the cleric’s followers following the incident.

“The suspect was killed by the cleric’s followers, and no arrest has been made in connection with the ensuing violence,” the police spokesman said.

Rufa’i said the command had deployed measures to prevent the situation from escalating, adding that an investigation was underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack and establish the identities of those involved.

The attack also reportedly triggered protests in some parts of the metropolis after residents learned that the cleric had survived.

The development heightened tension around areas including Sahara, Bello Way and Aliyu Jodi, where some business owners reportedly shut their shops over fears of possible violence.

Some residents were also seen leaving commercial areas as security personnel moved into strategic locations to maintain law and order.

The police appealed to residents to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into their own hands while investigations continue.