… Attack reportedly linked to controversial sermon, earlier threats against cleric
Toyyibat Qasim
Tension gripped parts of Sokoto metropolis on Friday after a prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Musa Lukwa, was reportedly stabbed shortly after leading the Juma’at prayer, with the alleged attacker subsequently killed by some of the cleric’s followers.
The incident occurred shortly after the cleric concluded the Friday congregational prayer, according to sources familiar with the development.
Lukwa was reportedly injured during the attack and rushed to a hospital for medical attention.
Details of his condition remained unclear as of the time of filing this report.
The incident was said to have stemmed from controversy surrounding an earlier sermon delivered by the cleric, which some Islamic scholars and their followers reportedly considered offensive to the parents of Prophet Muhammad.
The sermon had previously generated tension in the area, with a man identified as Mai Barewa allegedly threatening Lukwa and one of his senior students.
The alleged threat reportedly led to the arrest and arraignment of Barewa, with the matter said to still be pending before a court.
Sources further disclosed that the cleric and his followers had written to the Sokoto State Government four days before Friday’s attack, expressing concern over the alleged threats against them.
It was gathered that the latest attack occurred when the assailant allegedly confronted Lukwa over the contentious remarks before stabbing him.
The motive and circumstances surrounding the attack, however, had yet to be independently established.
Following the stabbing, some of Lukwa’s followers reportedly descended on the alleged attacker and killed him.
The development has heightened concerns over the danger posed by religiously sensitive disputes and the resort to mob violence rather than allowing security agencies and the courts to determine culpability.
The incident also raises fresh questions about the protection of individuals facing threats arising from contentious religious issues and the effectiveness of early warnings submitted to relevant authorities.
Confirming that an incident occurred, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, acknowledged the development but declined to provide further details.
As of press time, the identity of the alleged attacker had not been officially confirmed by the police.
The exact circumstances surrounding his death were also unclear.
Similarly, there was no official medical statement on Lukwa’s condition beyond reports that he was receiving treatment.
The Friday incident has once again underscored the potentially volatile consequences of disputes involving religion and alleged blasphemy, particularly when accusations circulate before the facts are established through lawful investigation.
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