RismadarVoice Reporters
September 20, 2026
Tension has persisted in parts of Sokoto metropolis after an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Musa Ayuba Lukuwa, was stabbed shortly after Friday prayers at his mosque in the Mabera area on September 11.
Police said the unidentified attacker allegedly injured Lukuwa with a knife before worshippers overpowered him. The alleged assailant was subsequently beaten by a mob and died from injuries sustained during the assault.
Lukuwa was taken to hospital, treated and later discharged. In a video circulated after the incident, he appealed for calm and urged his followers not to retaliate.
The incident reportedly followed controversy over remarks attributed to the cleric concerning sensitive religious issues, including comments about the parents of Prophet Muhammad. Authorities have not established the precise context of the disputed remarks.
The Sokoto State Government ordered the immediate closure of the mosque, declaring it a crime scene while investigations continue. Security personnel have remained stationed around the premises.
The government also constituted a 14-member advisory committee of Islamic scholars and representatives of major Muslim organisations to examine the religious issues surrounding the controversy and advise the government. The committee, chaired by Sarkin Malamai, Malam Yahaya na Malam Boyi, was given 14 days to submit its report.
Meanwhile, the police have warned residents against reprisals, inflammatory statements and provocative gatherings, stressing that religious disagreements must not be used to justify taking the law into one’s hands.
A disciple of Lukuwa, Mallam Murtala Bello Asada, has questioned the impartiality of the advisory committee, alleging that some members have longstanding disagreements with the cleric. That allegation has not been established as a finding against any committee member.
The situation therefore involves two separate but connected investigations: the police investigation into the stabbing and subsequent death of the alleged attacker, and the government-appointed religious inquiry into the issues surrounding Lukuwa’s controversial remarks.
The mosque remained closed during Friday prayers, with security agents guarding the premises. Authorities are urging religious leaders, traditional rulers and community leaders to discourage further violence and allow investigations to proceed through established legal and institutional channels.
