Mob Justice Erupts in Sokoto as Cleric's Attacker is Killed After Stabbing Incident
An Islamic cleric, Malam Musa Lukwa, was stabbed in Sokoto after Juma’at prayers following a controversial sermon, leading to the attacker's death by worshippers. The incident, which had roots in earlier threats, sparked tension and protests across the city, prompting police intervention and a call for calm.
Tension gripped parts of Sokoto metropolis following a violent incident on Friday, September 11, when an Islamic cleric, Malam Musa Lukwa, was stabbed shortly after leading the Juma’at prayer at his mosque in the Mabera area. The suspected assailant, identified as a young man among the worshippers, reportedly attacked Lukwa twice in the neck and inflicted cuts on his left hand with a sharp knife. He was seated in one of the front rows before launching the attack immediately after the prayer.
The swift action of other worshippers led to the suspect being overpowered and beaten to death before security operatives could arrive. This act of mob justice was later condemned by the Sokoto State Police Command. Malam Lukwa, however, survived the attack and was admitted to the Specialist Hospital, Sokoto, where he received treatment and was subsequently discharged after responding well.
The motive behind the attack was reportedly linked to a sermon previously delivered by Malam Lukwa. In his sermon, the cleric cited a Hadith that some Islamic scholars, particularly those associated with the Tariqa order, considered offensive to the parents of Prophet Muhammad. This sermon had previously caused considerable tension in the area.
Prior to Friday's incident, a man identified as Mai Barewa was accused of threatening Malam Lukwa and his senior student, Malam Murtala Assada, in connection with the controversial sermon. The cleric and his followers had reported these threats to the police, leading to Mai Barewa's arrest and arraignment in court, with the case still ongoing. Furthermore, four days before the stabbing, Lukwa and his followers had formally expressed their concerns over these threats to the Sokoto State Government.
DSP Ahmad Rufai (also referred to as Rufa’i), the spokesman for the Sokoto State Police Command, confirmed the incident, Malam Lukwa's treatment, and the killing of the suspect by the cleric's followers. He stated that no arrests had been made in connection with the ensuing violence but assured that measures were deployed to prevent the situation from escalating. The Commissioner of Police, CP Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, emphasized the importance of allowing the law to take its course and urged residents to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands while investigations continued.
News of Malam Lukwa's survival reportedly sparked protests by some youths in various parts of the city, including Sahara, Bello Way, and Aliyu Jodi. These demonstrations intensified tension, leading some shop owners to close their businesses and residents to leave commercial areas due to fears of further violence. Security personnel were promptly deployed to strategic locations across the city to maintain peace and order amidst the unrest. The police have appealed to residents for vigilance and cooperation, urging them to report suspicious activities to security agencies.