Popular Islamic scholar, Sheikh Musa Lukuwa, was stabbed in the stomach by a worshipper shortly after Friday prayers at a mosque in the Mabera area of Sokoto metropolis on Friday.
The incident triggered a mob attack, as other worshippers descended on the alleged assailant and beat him to death, while Lukuwa was rushed to the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital for treatment.
The Sokoto State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmed Rufa’i, confirmed the incident, saying one person was killed during the ensuing violence.
Rufa’i said the suspect allegedly used a knife to stab Lukuwa immediately after the Friday prayer.
He said the Islamic scholar, who led the congregation attended by the assailant, was receiving treatment at the hospital.
“The deceased was killed by a mob after he allegedly used a knife to stab Lukuwa in the stomach immediately after the Friday prayer,” the police spokesman said.
Rufa’i added that the body of the deceased had been evacuated, while no arrest had been made in connection with the incident.
He said the situation had been brought under control, urging residents to remain calm and law-abiding.
The attack came amid heightened tensions over allegations that Lukuwa made blasphemous remarks concerning Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The allegations had reportedly angered some Muslim faithful in the state.
A gangster, Dahiru Maibarewa, had also publicly threatened to kill Lukuwa at the first opportunity over the remarks attributed to the cleric.
The threat reportedly heightened tensions and sparked demonstrations in parts of Sokoto metropolis.
At a press conference on September 4, 2026, an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abubakar Yagawal, urged Muslims to reject and oppose any cleric who engages in blasphemous content, regardless of the circumstances.
Yagawal, leader of the National Sufi Council of Nigeria and a National Commissioner of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, described Lukuwa’s alleged utterances as unbecoming and capable of provoking violence within Muslim communities.
He said a coalition of Islamic religious groups in Sokoto State had called on the Federal and Sokoto State governments, as well as security agencies, to investigate the matter and take appropriate action against Lukuwa over the alleged remarks.
Yagawal stressed the need for peaceful coexistence, warning against actions capable of escalating tensions within the Muslim community.
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