An Islamic cleric in Sokoto State, Malam Musa Lukwa, is receiving treatment after he was stabbed shortly after leading Friday prayers at his mosque in the Mabera area of Sokoto metropolis.
The attack occurred on Friday and reportedly involved a young man who was among the worshippers at the mosque.
According to reports, the suspect allegedly attacked Lukwa and stabbed him twice in the neck before other worshippers overpowered him. The suspect was subsequently killed by the cleric’s followers.
The incident has heightened tension in parts of the Sokoto metropolis, with reports of protests and increased security presence following news that the cleric survived the attack.
The Sokoto State Police Command confirmed the stabbing, saying the cleric was taken to the Specialist Hospital in Sokoto, where he is currently receiving treatment.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, said the cleric was responding to treatment, while no arrest had been made in connection with the violence that followed the attack.
Police said the circumstances surrounding the incident were being investigated.
The attack is believed to be connected to a sermon previously delivered by the cleric, which reportedly angered some Islamic scholars and their followers over comments they considered offensive to the parents of Prophet Muhammad.
The sermon had earlier generated tension within the community. A man identified as Mai Barewa was reportedly accused of threatening Lukwa and one of his senior students and was subsequently arrested and arraigned before a court. The case is said to be ongoing.
Lukwa and his followers had also reportedly written to the Sokoto State Government four days before Friday’s attack, raising concerns about the threats against them.
Following the stabbing, youths reportedly took to the streets in some parts of the metropolis after learning that the cleric had survived.
The development reportedly affected areas including Sahara, Bello Way and Aliyu Jodi, where some business owners shut their shops amid fears of further violence. Residents were also seen leaving some commercial areas as security personnel moved into strategic locations.
The police have appealed for calm and urged residents to refrain from taking the law into their own hands as investigations continue.
