Muslim religious leader Yahaya Ibrahim Masussuka assassinated in Nigeria

Muslim religious leader Yahaya Ibrahim Masussuka and his associate, Adamu Abubakar, were killed by gunmen in Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, northern Nigeria. According to police spokesperson Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, two armed individuals on a motorcycle opened fire on the victims as they were outside Masussuka’s residence on Monday night.

Masussuka was a prominent figure known for promoting interfaith dialogue, peaceful coexistence, and preaching against violent extremism and radicalization. He maintained a significant social media presence with approximately 436,000 Facebook followers. The cleric had previously faced friction with Wahhabi religious officials, who had accused him of blasphemy.

Amnesty International condemned the incident as a ‘brutal killing,’ noting that Masussuka had received threats prior to the attack. While the motives for the assassination remain unconfirmed, the killing occurs amidst ongoing insecurity and religious tensions in northern Nigeria.