Sokoto cleric stabbed after Juma’at prayer, attacker killed

On Friday, a tense atmosphere pervaded parts of Sokoto metropolis after an Islamic cleric, Malam Musa Lukwa, was stabbed during the Juma’at prayer in the Mabera area. The assailant, believed to be a young man among the congregation, stabbed the cleric twice in the neck before being overpowered and killed by Lukwa's followers. This incident appears to be linked to a sermon delivered by the cleric, which some Islamic scholars and their supporters found offensive to the Prophet Muhammad's parents. The sermon had already ignited tensions in the region.

Mai Barewa, identified as the attacker's possible relative, was accused of threatening Lukwa and one of his senior students. He was subsequently arrested and brought before the court; the case remains unresolved. Prior to the incident, Lukwa and his followers had sent a letter to the Sokoto State Government expressing their apprehensions over the threats they faced.

Speaking to reporters, DSP Ahmad Rufai of the Sokoto State Police Command confirmed Lukwa was receiving treatment at the Specialist Hospital, Sokoto, and that the attacker had been killed by Lukwa's followers. The police have initiated an investigation to ascertain the reasons behind the attack and identify the perpetrators. The incident triggered protests among some youths in the city, leading to heightened tensions in areas such as Sahara, Bello Way, and Aliyu Jodi.

Business owners in these locations closed their shops out of fear of further violence, and residents evacuated commercial zones as security forces reinforced key locations to maintain peace and order. The police have urged the public to remain calm and refrain from taking matters into their own hands while the investigation proceeds.