In a observation, the command’s spokesperson, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, mentioned, “The Katsina State Police Command regrets to substantiate the tragic dying of a distinguished Islamic pupil, Sheikh Yahaya Ibrahim Masussuka, and his good friend, Adamu Abubakar, following an assault through suspected armed gunmen.”
He added that the Divisional Police Officer in Dutsin-Ma led a group of operatives to the scene after receiving the record.
“The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Ali Umar Fage, has ordered the deployment of tactical and operational groups to the realm. An investigation has commenced, and efforts are being intensified to trace down and arrest the fleeing suspects,” the observation mentioned.
The police commissioner additionally prolonged condolences to the households, buddies and fans of the deceased, assuring citizens that the command would pursue the perpetrators.
Amnesty World condemns killing
The killing has drawn condemnation from human rights organisations and individuals of the general public, with requires an intensive investigation and the prosecution of the ones accountable.
Amnesty World Nigeria condemned the assault, describing the killing as brutal and urging the government to make certain that the perpetrators had been dropped at justice.
“Amnesty World strongly condemns the brutal killing of famend Islamic preacher Sheikh Yahaya Masussuka, who was once killed as of late through gunmen on motorbikes as he stepped out of his space in Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, to head for his same old night time preaching,” the organisation mentioned in a observation revealed on its Fb web page.
The organisation mentioned Masussuka had persistently used his preaching to advertise cooperation, non violent coexistence, interfaith discussion and figuring out amongst Muslims.
“Sheikh Yahaya Masussuka had persistently used his preaching to advertise cooperation, non violent coexistence, interfaith discussion and figuring out amongst Muslim devoted. He was once additionally notable for preaching towards violent extremism and radicalisation,” Amnesty World mentioned.
It additional alleged that the past due cleric had confronted threats to his existence and intimidation all over his lifetime, calling for a right away and efficient investigation into the instances surrounding his dying.
Who was once Sheikh Yahaya Masussuka?
Sheikh Yahaya Ibrahim Masussuka was once a distinguished Islamic preacher in Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, recognized for his Qur’an-centred technique to Islamic interpretation, specifically Tafseerul Qur’ani bil Qur’an, which comes to deciphering the Qur’an via different passages of the similar scripture.
His public perspectives and grievance of positive Hadith traditions attracted each toughen and controversy amongst Islamic students in northern Nigeria.
Masussuka operated Masussuka Media and was once related to the established order of Qur’an TV and Radio, along junior and senior secondary colleges providing each Western and Islamic schooling in Dutsin-Ma.
Past non secular teachings, he spoke on social problems, together with circle of relatives making plans as a way of addressing poverty and lack of confidence in northern Nigeria.
He was once additionally reported to have won a number of Peace Ambassador awards for selling non violent coexistence and interfaith discussion.
On the other hand, his interpretations of Islamic teachings generated disagreements with some Muslim students and organisations.
In past due 2025, the Katsina State Executive reportedly invited him to seem earlier than a committee of Islamic students following lawsuits from some clerical teams that facets of his teachings allegedly contradicted established Islamic rules.
The dispute triggered discussions about non secular freedom, freedom of expression and the desire to give protection to people from threats or violence coming up from disagreements over non secular ideals.
Cleric’s pals name for investigation
Following the killing, a few of Masussuka’s scholars and co-workers took to social media to precise grief and speak to for calm, caution towards reprisals and taking the legislation into their very own fingers.
In a video circulated on-line, a cleric known as Sheikh Usman Dangungun, described as one in every of Masussuka’s pals, instructed the federal government and safety businesses to research the killing and establish the ones accountable.
Requires calm have additionally featured prominently in messages from the past due cleric’s fans, amid considerations that the killing may just deepen present tensions amongst non secular teams.
On the other hand, the cause for the assault has now not been established, and there is not any showed proof linking the killing to disagreements over the cleric’s non secular teachings.
Notable assassinations of Islamic clerics
The killing of Sheikh Yahaya Ibrahim Masussuka provides to a historical past of assaults on Islamic students and spiritual leaders in northern Nigeria.
Sheikh Ja’afar Mahmoud Adam was once shot lifeless in April 2007 whilst main early morning prayers at Dorayi Central Mosque in Kano.
In March 2011, Imam Ibrahim Ahmed Abdullahi was once reportedly assassinated in Maiduguri, Borno State, after talking towards Boko Haram’s extremist ideology.
In February 2014, Sheikh Adam Albani, a distinguished Islamic pupil recognized for criticising Boko Haram, was once shot lifeless along his spouse and son in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Despite the fact that the instances and motives at the back of those assaults range, the killings spotlight the safety dangers confronted through non secular leaders in portions of the rustic.
Circle of relatives prepares for burial
A person known as Zahraddeen Suraj Abbas, described as a relative of the deceased, mentioned the circle of relatives was once making preparations to take custody of the frame for burial in keeping with Islamic rites.
The killing has left fans and individuals of the group mourning the preacher, whose teachings attracted consideration each for his advocacy of non violent coexistence and for the controversies surrounding his non secular interpretations.
Because the circle of relatives prepares for his burial, key questions surrounding the assault stay unanswered, together with who carried it out and what motivated the gunmen.
Despite the fact that Amnesty World alleged that the cleric had confronted threats all over his lifetime, it stays unclear whether or not the ones threats had been attached to his killing.
As of the time of submitting this record, the police had introduced an investigation, whilst the identities of the perpetrators and the cause for the assault remained unknown.