By Muhammad Mamman
Abdullahi Abubakar, the Muslim cleric who earned global admiration for protecting hundreds of Christians during deadly attacks in Plateau State in 2018, has died at the age of 92.
Abubakar, the chief imam of Nghar village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, passed away after a life widely celebrated for courage, compassion and interfaith solidarity.
The imam rose to national and international prominence during the 2018 violence in Plateau State, when armed attackers targeted communities, killing scores and forcing many to flee their homes. At the height of the attacks, Abubakar opened his mosque and personal residence to those escaping the violence, sheltering about 300 Christians, including women and children.
Witnesses and survivors said he repeatedly stood between the attackers and those he was protecting, urging restraint and warning that any attempt to harm the displaced people would have to go through him first.
His actions were widely praised across religious and ethnic lines in Nigeria, a country often strained by sectarian tensions. Abubakar later received several local and international commendations, with many describing him as a symbol of peaceful coexistence and moral leadership.
Tributes have poured in following news of his death, with religious leaders, civil society groups and ordinary Nigerians recalling his bravery and humanity at a time of fear and bloodshed.
In a region frequently marked by communal violence, Abdullahi Abubakar’s legacy endures as a powerful reminder that acts of conscience can transcend faith and division.
