By Abubakar Yunusa
The Northern Elders Forum(NEF has expressed profound grief over the passing of renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, who died on Sunday at the age of 98.
The Forum said Nigeria, Africa, and the global Muslim community had been plunged into mourning, describing him as one of the most influential spiritual figures of his generation.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Prof Abubakar Jika Jiddere, the NEF said Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi was “a guiding light, a father to the Ummah, a refuge for the troubled, and a voice of truth.”
It noted that his wisdom, humility and compassion shaped generations and touched countless lives across the world.
The Forum said his death marked “the fading of a rare, radiant star” whose teachings and leadership had provided comfort, direction and inspiration for decades.
It added that his commitment to peace, justice and unity earned him admiration far beyond Nigeria’s borders.
“The intellectual and spiritual world of Islam stands quieter, dimmer and deeply wounded,” the statement read.
The NEF extended condolences to his family, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Government and people of Bauchi State, and the entire Muslim Ummah.
It said the Convener and Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Prof Ango Abdullahi, and the Chairman of its Management Board, Air Marshal Al-Amin Daggash (retd.), also mourned the scholar’s passing, describing it as “a loss of immeasurable magnitude.”
They prayed for Almighty Allah to grant the family strength, envelop the Ummah in mercy, and bless the nation with resilience to bear the loss of “a father, a teacher, and a luminous spiritual presence.”
The Forum praised Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi’s lifelong role in promoting harmony, calming tensions and fostering peaceful coexistence.
It prayed that Allah grants him mercy, expands his grave, and admits him into the highest ranks of Jannatul Firdausi.
“He is a treasure lost; a pillar fallen; and a guiding light returned to his Creator,” the NEF added.
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