An Islamic cleric, Sheikh Yahaya Masussuka, and his friend, Adamu Abubakar, have been shot dead by gunmen in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The incident occurred at about 7:30 pm on Monday, October 26, 2026, in front of the cleric’s residence, according to the Katsina State Police Command.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, confirmed the killings in a statement issued late Monday, saying two armed men riding on a motorcycle opened fire on the victims.
He said the victims were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment but were pronounced dead by a doctor.
“The victims were immediately rushed to the nearest hospital for medical attention, where they were unfortunately pronounced dead by the attending medical doctor,” the statement said.
The police spokesperson added that the Divisional Police Officer in Dutsin-Ma led a team of officers to the scene after receiving information about the attack.
Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Ali Umar Fage, ordered the deployment of tactical and operational teams to the area to track down the attackers.
The police said an investigation had commenced to identify and arrest the fleeing suspects.
The commissioner also expressed condolences to the families and associates of the deceased, as well as residents of Dutsin-Ma, assuring them that efforts were underway to bring those responsible to justice.
The command added that it would provide further updates as the investigation progressed.
The killing comes amid continued security concerns in parts of the country.
Barely a week earlier, gunmen reportedly killed an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and abducted a businessman in Pushit community, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The Plateau attack occurred at about 9:30 pm on Monday, despite a recently imposed dusk-to-dawn curfew in parts of the area following repeated security incidents.
