By Hadiza Mohammed, Northern Operation
Tension gripped parts of Sokoto metropolis on Friday following the stabbing of an Islamic cleric, Malam Musa Lukwa, shortly after he led the Juma’at prayer at his mosque in the Mabera area of the city.
Lukwa was reportedly attacked by a young man believed to be among the worshippers at the mosque. The assailant allegedly stabbed the cleric twice in the neck before other worshippers intervened, overpowered him and killed him.
The attack is believed to be connected to a sermon previously delivered by the cleric, which reportedly angered some Islamic scholars and their followers, who considered the remarks offensive to the parents of Prophet Muhammad.
The sermon had earlier sparked controversy and heightened tensions within the community. A man identified as Mai Barewa was subsequently accused of threatening Lukwa and one of his senior students.
Barewa was arrested and arraigned before a court, with the case reportedly still pending.
Amid the earlier threats, the cleric and his followers were said to have submitted a written complaint to the Sokoto State Government four days before Friday’s attack, drawing attention to the alleged threats against them.
Confirming the stabbing, the spokesman for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, said Lukwa had been taken to the Specialist Hospital, Sokoto, where he was receiving treatment.
Rufa’i said the suspected attacker was killed by the cleric’s followers after the incident.
“The cleric was stabbed and has been taken to the Specialist Hospital, Sokoto, where he is receiving treatment and responding to treatment,” the police spokesman said.
He added: “The suspect was killed by the cleric’s followers, and no arrest has been made in connection with the ensuing violence.”
According to Rufa’i, the police had deployed measures to prevent the situation from escalating, while an investigation was underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack and identify others who may have been involved.
The attack, however, reportedly triggered protests in parts of the metropolis after youths took to the streets following reports that the cleric had survived.
The protests heightened tension around areas including Sahara, Bello Way and Aliyu Jodi, where several shop owners reportedly shut their businesses for fear of possible attacks.
Residents were also seen leaving some commercial areas as security operatives moved into strategic locations across the city in an effort to maintain law and order and prevent further violence.
The police urged residents to remain calm, refrain from taking the law into their own hands and cooperate with investigators as efforts continue to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.
