The Northern States’ Governors Forum (NSGF) has mourned the demise of Chief Imam of Nghar Village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Sheikh Abdullahi Abubakar, who died at the age of 92 after a brief illness on Friday.
In a condolence message issued on behalf of the Forum, NSGF Chairman and governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, described the late cleric as an embodiment of peace, courage and selfless leadership whose life and actions earned him global respect and admiration.
Governor Yahaya recalled that Sheikh Abdullahi Abubakar rose to international prominence during the 2018 Barkin Ladi sectarian crisis, when he courageously sheltered about 200 Christians in his mosque and personal residence, shielding them from attacks at great personal risk.
In a statement by his director-general on press affairs Gombe Government House, Isma’ila Uba Misilli, the governor noted that the Imam’s insistence to the protection of all human lives.
According to the NSGF chairman, the late Imam’s actions at a time of grave national distress transcended religious boundaries and projected Northern Nigeria as a land of compassion, coexistence and shared humanity.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya urged Nigerians, particularly religious and community leaders, to draw inspiration from the life and legacy of the late Imam by promoting tolerance, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence across faiths and ethnic divides.
On behalf of the Northern Governors Forum, the Gombe State governor extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of Sheikh Abdullahi Abubakar, the people and government of Plateau State, and the entire Muslim and Christian communities who benefitted from his exemplary leadership.
He prayed Almighty Allah to grant him Aljannat Firdaus and give his family the fortitude to bear the great loss.
The late Abdullahi’s commitment to peace earned him both national and international recognitions, including the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) award and the United States International Religious Freedom Award, among others.
