Sokoto Police Command Confirms Stabbing Of Islamic Cleric, Lynching Of Suspect By Worshippers | Sahara Reporters

The police said Lukuwa survived the attack and was treated at a specialist hospital before being discharged.

The Sokoto State Police Command has confirmed the stabbing of Islamic scholar, Malam Musa Lukuwa, shortly after Juma’at prayers at Lukuwa Mosque in the Mabera area of Sokoto metropolis, saying the alleged attacker was subsequently lynched by worshippers.

The police said Lukuwa survived the attack and was treated at a specialist hospital before being discharged.

The command, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, said it received a distress call from a concerned resident at about 1:50pm on Friday reporting a violent incident at the mosque.

According to the police, preliminary investigations showed that an unidentified man entered the mosque shortly after the Friday prayers and attacked Lukuwa with a knife.

The suspect allegedly inflicted deep cuts on the cleric’s neck and left hand before members of the congregation overpowered him.

The police said the suspect was subsequently killed by an angry mob before security operatives could intervene.

The alleged attacker was later taken to the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor, according to the police.

Lukuwa, who sustained injuries during the attack, was also rushed to a specialist hospital where he received medical attention and was later discharged.

The police condemned the killing of the suspect, describing it as “jungle justice,” and warned residents against taking the law into their own hands.

The Commissioner of Police in Sokoto, Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, called on residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies as investigations continue.

The command also said security personnel had been deployed to the affected area to prevent further unrest and maintain law and order.

It urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons or activities to the nearest security agency.

Friday’s attack comes weeks after Lukuwa became embroiled in controversy over religious remarks attributed to him, which reportedly angered some Muslim faithful in Sokoto.

Recent reports said the cleric had faced threats over comments linked to a Hadith concerning the parents of Prophet Muhammad.

A man identified in local reports as Dahiru Shehu Maibarewa was previously accused of threatening to kill Lukuwa and one of his senior students over the controversy. Reports said the matter was reported to the police and Maibarewa was subsequently arrested and arraigned before a court.

The controversy had also generated demonstrations and heightened tension in parts of Sokoto metropolis.

On September 4, Islamic cleric Sheikh Abubakar Yagawal, who is also associated with the National Sufi Council of Nigeria, reportedly called on Muslims to reject clerics who engage in what he described as blasphemous content.

Yagawal was also reported to have called on the Nigerian and Sokoto State governments and security agencies to investigate the allegations against Lukuwa and take appropriate action.

Days before Friday’s attack, reports said Lukuwa and his followers had submitted a written complaint to the Sokoto State Government over the threats against him.

There were also reports of Lukuwa appearing in a video with a pump-action firearm while heading to his mosque, amid concerns over threats to his life.

It remains unclear whether the latest attack was directly connected to those earlier threats and controversy.

The police have not publicly established the identity of the attacker or confirmed his motive, saying investigations are ongoing.

The latest incident has nevertheless raised fresh concerns over security around religious gatherings in Sokoto and the danger of mob justice following attacks perceived to involve religious sensitivities.

The police urged residents to allow investigators to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack and warned against any reprisal or further unrest.

Lukuwa has since appealed for calm, according to reports published Saturday, saying his injuries were not life-threatening and urging his followers not to retaliate.