An Islamic cleric, Malam Musa Lukwa, was stabbed shortly after leading the Juma’at prayer at his mosque in the Mabera area of Sokoto metropolis on Friday.
The incident sparked tension in parts of the city as the suspected attacker, said to be a young man among the worshippers, was reportedly overpowered and killed by the cleric’s followers.
The attack was linked to a previous sermon by Lukwa, which some Islamic scholars and their followers had reportedly considered offensive to the parents of Prophet Muhammad.
The sermon had earlier caused tension, with a man identified as Mai Barewa allegedly 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.
The cleric and his followers were also said to have written to the Sokoto State Government four days before Friday’s incident, expressing concerns over the 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.
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.
“The suspect was killed by the cleric’s followers, and no arrest has been made in connection with the ensuing violence.”
He added that the police had deployed measures to prevent further escalation, while an investigation was underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack and identify those involved.
The incident reportedly triggered protests by some youths after news spread that the cleric had survived the stabbing.
Tension was subsequently heightened in areas including Sahara, Bello Way and Aliyu Jodi, with some shop owners closing their businesses over fears of possible attacks.
Residents were also reported to have left some commercial areas as security operatives moved into strategic locations to maintain law and order.
The police urged residents to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into their own hands as the investigation continues.
