Heroic Plateau Imam Who Saved 262 Christians Dies

By MAHMOOD MALIK MUSA (M. M. M.) IBRAHIM

IMAM Abubakar Abdullahi, the respected religious leader who sheltered 262 Christians during the 2018 communal clashes in Plateau State, has died at the age of 90.

The Imam of Nghar village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area died on Thursday night at the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos. His son, Saleh Abubakar, confirmed the development on Friday, revealing that the cleric had been ill for some time.

According to Saleh, his father had suffered from heart-related complications and was admitted to the hospital about ten days before his death. He said the condition had affected the Imam’s stability in recent years despite ongoing medical care.

Imam Abdullahi leaves behind 19 children—12 boys and seven girls.

The late cleric became widely known in June 2018 during violent interreligious clashes that engulfed several communities in Barkin Ladi. As attacks spread across at least 10 villages, Imam Abdullahi opened the doors of his mosque and home to Christians fleeing violence.

He provided shelter and protection to 262 people, hiding them until the unrest subsided. His actions are credited with saving the group from being killed during the crisis.

At a time when tensions were high and trust between communities was strained, the Imam’s decision to protect people of another faith earned him widespread praise across Nigeria and beyond.

In recognition of his courage, Imam Abdullahi received several honours, most notably the International Religious Freedom Award from the United States government in 2019.

Residents of Nghar village and neighbouring communities have continued to reference his actions as a reminder of peaceful coexistence and moral leadership during conflict.

The late Imam will be buried today in his hometown of Nghar after Juma’at prayers, family sources confirmed.