Tension rose in parts of Sokoto metropolis on Friday after an Islamic cleric, Malam Musa Lukwa, was stabbed shortly after leading the Juma’at prayer at his mosque in the Mabera area.
The suspected attacker, said to be a young man among the worshippers, allegedly stabbed the cleric twice in the neck before other worshippers overpowered him and killed him.
The attack was reportedly connected to a sermon previously delivered by the cleric, which some Islamic scholars and their followers considered offensive to the parents of Prophet Muhammad.
The sermon had earlier caused tension in the area. A man identified as Mai Barewa was reportedly accused of threatening Lukwa and one of his senior students.
Mai Barewa was later arrested and taken to court, and the case is still ongoing.
The cleric and his followers were also said to have written to the Sokoto State Government four days before Friday’s incident, expressing concern over the threats against them.
Confirming the attack, the spokesman for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said Lukwa was receiving treatment at the Specialist Hospital, Sokoto.
Rufai 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 said the police had taken steps to prevent the situation from getting worse, adding that an investigation was underway to determine what led to the attack and identify those involved.
The incident also reportedly sparked protests by some youths in parts of the city after news spread that the cleric had survived.
The protests increased tension around Sahara, Bello Way and Aliyu Jodi, with some shop owners closing their businesses because of fears of further violence.
Some residents were also seen leaving commercial areas as security personnel moved into strategic locations to maintain peace and order.
The police appealed to residents to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands while the investigation continues.