Cleric stabbed after Juma’at prayer, suspect killed in Sokoto

Tension erupted in parts of Sokoto metropolis on Friday after an Islamic cleric, Malam Musa Lukwa, was attacked shortly after conducting the Juma’at prayer at his mosque in the Mabera area of the city.

Lukwa was stabbed in the neck by a young man said to be among the worshippers. The suspect was subsequently overpowered and killed by some of the cleric’s followers, according to accounts of the incident.

The attack was reportedly linked to a sermon previously delivered by Lukwa, which had sparked controversy among some Islamic scholars and their followers over comments concerning the parents of Prophet Muhammad.

The sermon had allegedly led to threats against the cleric and one of his senior students by a man identified as Mai Barewa.

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

Lukwa and his followers were also said to have petitioned the Sokoto State Government in writing four days before Friday’s incident, raising concerns over the alleged threats against them.

Confirming the attack, the spokesman for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, said the cleric had been taken to the Specialist Hospital, Sokoto, where he was receiving treatment.

“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 suspect was killed by the cleric’s followers, while no arrest had been made in connection with the ensuing violence.

The police spokesman said security measures had been deployed to prevent the situation from escalating, adding that an investigation was underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack and identify those involved.

Following reports that Lukwa had survived the attack, some youths reportedly took to the streets in parts of the metropolis.

The development created tension in areas including Sahara, Bello Way and Aliyu Jodi, where some traders reportedly closed their shops amid fears of possible violence.

Residents were also said to have left some commercial areas as security personnel were deployed to strategic locations across the affected parts of the city.

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