​Tension gripped parts of the Sokoto metropolis on Friday, September 11, 2026, after prominent Islamic cleric Malam Musa Lukwa was stabbed shortly after leading the afternoon Juma’at prayer at his mosque in the Mabera area.
​The incident unfolded immediately following the conclusion of the Friday congregational prayer. An assailant, who had been seated among the worshippers in the front rows, launched an attack on the cleric, inflicting knife wounds near his neck and stomach.
Enraged worshippers quickly overpowered the suspect, identified by witnesses as Mai Barewa, and beat him to death at the scene before security forces could intervene.
​Confirming the violent clash, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Sokoto State Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, stated that the cleric was rushed to the hospital following the assault and is in stable condition receiving medical treatment.
Rufa’i also confirmed the death of the suspect at the hands of the mob and noted that security personnel have been deployed to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
The attack stems from an ongoing theological controversy surrounding a previous sermon delivered by Lukwa.
Opposition scholars, particularly those associated with the Tariqa order, accused the cleric of making blasphemous remarks regarding the parents of Prophet Muhammad.
Prior to Friday’s attack, the alleged assailant had reportedly made public threats against Lukwa and his senior student, Malam Murtala Assada, which had previously led to legal complaints and a court appearance.
​Following the violent outbreak, commercial activities temporarily ground to a halt across key areas of the city, including Sahara, Bello Way, and Aliyu Jodi, as business owners closed shops over fears of reprisal attacks.
In a video message released later on Friday, Sheikh Lukwa addressed his followers from his hospital bed, displaying a bandage on his neck. He assured the public that his injuries were not life-threatening and appealed for calm, urging his supporters to refrain from retaliation and allow security agencies to handle the investigation.
