Tinubu Mourns Plateau Imam who Saved over 200 Christians

Tinubu Mourns Plateau Imam who Saved over 200 Christians

President Bola Tinubu has formally extended his sympathies following the passing of Imam Abdullahi Abubakar, the 92-year-old Plateau State cleric who became a global symbol of courage.

The Imam is being remembered for his heroic intervention during a period of intense communal unrest in 2018, where he prioritized the lives of others over his own safety.

The respected religious leader is famously credited with sheltering more than 200 Christians within his personal residence and mosque in Nghar village to protect them from armed attackers.

When confronted by the mob, he refused to surrender those in his care, famously placing his own body between the victims and the gunmen to prevent a massacre.

In a heartfelt statement, President Tinubu hailed the late Imam as a beacon of interfaith harmony and a pillar of moral leadership. The President emphasized that Abubakar’s legacy serves as a vital blueprint for national unity, proving that compassion and the protection of human life should always transcend religious and ethnic divides.

Throughout his later years, the Imam’s bravery earned him significant accolades, most notably the 2019 International Religious Freedom Award presented by the U.S. State Department. He was also widely recognized by the Nigerian government and global humanitarian bodies for his unwavering dedication to fostering peace in a region often troubled by conflict.

Following a brief illness, Imam Abubakar passed away at the Plateau Specialist Hospital in Jos. As the nation mourns the loss of this exceptional humanitarian, he is being laid to rest in his home community, leaving behind a legacy of selflessness that continues to inspire Nigerians and the world.