Abdullahi Abubakar
Chief Imam Abdullahi Abubakar | |
|---|---|
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 January 1936 |
| Died | 15 January 2026 (aged 90) Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria |
Imam Abdullahi Abubakar (1 January 1936 – 15 January 2026) was a Nigerian Islamic cleric and humanitarian. He is best known for saving the lives of 262 non-Muslims, predominantly Christian, during an attack on his community by armed bandits in 2018.[1][2][3]
Early life
Imam Abdullahi Abubakar was born in 1936 in Bauchi, Northern Region, Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.[4]
Chief Imam
Imam Abubakar was the Chief Imam of Akwatti Mosque in Nghar, a community in Barkin Ladi local government area of Plateau State.
In 2018, there was an attack on Yelwan Gindi Akwati, Swei and Nghar villages where 80 persons were killed by suspected bandits.[5][6]
The Imam was able to save the lives of 262 people, predominantly Christians from the Birom tribe, by sheltering them in his mosque as attackers roamed the villages.[5]
In July 2019, Imam Abdullahi Abubakar received the International Religious Freedom Award from the United States government, which is granted to supporters of religious freedom, together with four other religious leaders from Sudan, Iraq, Brazil, and Cyprus.[7][6]
In August 2019, President Buhari authorized the inclusion of Imam Abdullahi Abubakar in the membership of the national Ulama committee and was part of an 80-man Ulama committee charged with the responsibility of educating Nigerian pilgrims in Mina during the 2019 Hajj.
Death
Abubakar died on 15 January 2026, at the age of 90.[8]
Awards
- US International Religious Freedom Award (2019)[5]
- Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR)
- Award of Excellence [7]
References
- ^ "Abdullahi Abubakar: Befitting honour to a prophet at home". TheCable. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
- ^ "Nigeria: How Village Imam, Abubakar, Put His Life on The Line to Save Others In Barkin Ladi Attacks | The MacMillan Center Religious Freedom and Society in Africa". religiousfreedom.yale.edu. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
- ^ "America honour Nigeria imam wey save Christians from killer 'herdsmen'". BBC News Pidgin. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
- ^ Egbas, Jude (9 August 2019). "Muslim who saved 262 Christians from killer herdsmen explains why". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
- ^ a b c Okogba, Emmanuel (26 July 2019). "A deserved honour for Imam Abdullahi". Vanguard News. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
- ^ a b "Muslim cleric who hid Christians during attacks honored in the US". CNN. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
- ^ a b "CAN honours Plateau Imam who saved Christians from attacks | Dailytrust". dailytrust.com. 26 September 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
- ^ Plateau Imam who shielded 262 Christians during attack is dead