An Islamic cleric, Sheikh Musa Lukuwa, survived a stabbing attack shortly after leading Friday prayers at his mosque in the Mabera area of Sokoto metropolis on Friday.
The alleged attacker was subsequently killed by worshippers and followers of the cleric, according to the Sokoto State Police Command. The incident has heightened tensions in parts of the city.
Police spokesman DSP Ahmad Rufa’i said Lukuwa was taken to hospital for treatment and was responding to treatment. Reports from different outlets vary on the precise location and number of stab wounds, so those details have not been presented as settled fact.
Rufa’i said no arrest had been made over the subsequent mob killing and that the police were investigating the circumstances surrounding both incidents.
The command has also deployed security personnel to prevent the situation from escalating and urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding.
Attack follows days of religious tension
The stabbing comes days after controversy surrounding statements attributed to Lukuwa concerning the parents of Prophet Muhammad.
The issue had already generated tension in Sokoto, with Islamic groups calling for an investigation into the cleric’s alleged remarks.
On September 4, Islamic cleric Sheikh Abubakar Yagawal called for Muslims to reject what he described as blasphemous content and urged authorities to investigate the matter.
The controversy also involved Dahiru Mai Barewa, who had been accused of threatening Lukuwa and another Islamic scholar, Malam Murtala Bello Assada.
Mai Barewa was subsequently subjected to court proceedings and remand, triggering a separate protest in Sokoto earlier this week.
Mai Barewa controversy preceded Friday attack
On September 7, youths protested in parts of Sokoto demanding Mai Barewa’s release after a court ordered his re-arrest and continued remand.
The protest reportedly led to clashes with security personnel after some demonstrators allegedly attempted to secure his release by force.
Police later said about 20 people were arrested over the protest and charged to court.
Reports on Friday linked the stabbing to the earlier controversy involving Lukuwa and Mai Barewa. However, the precise circumstances of the attack, including the alleged attacker’s identity and motive, remain subject to police investigation.
Police investigate mob killing
The incident has now produced two separate violent developments: the attack on Lukuwa and the subsequent killing of the alleged attacker by a mob.
Police said investigators would establish what happened during and after the stabbing and determine those involved in the killing.
The development has also renewed concerns about mob justice, particularly because the incident occurred against a backdrop of heightened religious tensions.
The police have urged residents to avoid taking the law into their own hands and allow security agencies to investigate the matter.
What happens next
Lukuwa remains under medical care while the police investigate the attack and the death of the alleged assailant.
Authorities will also face the task of containing further tension in Sokoto following days of protests and controversy surrounding the cleric.
The immediate priority for security agencies is to prevent retaliatory violence while establishing the full sequence of events that led to Friday’s stabbing and the subsequent mob killing.
