A Nigerian imam who gained international recognition for saving hundreds of lives during an outbreak of violence has died at the age of 90. Abubakar Abdullahi had been suffering from a heart condition and passed away in hospital on Thursday night, his son confirmed to BBC Hausa.
In 2018, Abdullahi witnessed desperate families fleeing into his village in Plateau state, central Nigeria. Hundreds of terrified villagers, mostly Christians, were escaping a group of about 300 well-armed men—suspected cattle herders, largely from the Fulani ethnic group—who were shooting sporadically and setting homes on fire. Abdullahi risked his own life to protect them, sheltering 262 people in his personal home and mosque. He first brought the women into his house and then placed the men in the mosque. When the attackers demanded that he hand over those he was hiding, he refused. Alongside members of his Muslim community, he pleaded with the attackers, crying and wailing for them to leave. Miraculously, the herders eventually departed, although two nearby churches were set ablaze.
Abdullahi’s actions earned him one of Nigeria’s highest national honours and the International Religious Freedom Award from the US State Department. He often spoke about the importance of harmony, saying, “God created mankind differently, but he wants us to live together in peace and harmony, and not harm each other.”
The wave of violence in central Nigeria continues, rooted in longstanding tensions between mostly Christian farming communities, such as the Berom, and nomadic Muslim cattle herders. Accusations that the Nigerian government does not do enough to protect Christians have been repeatedly denied, with officials emphasizing that all communities are affected.
Plateau state governor Caleb Mutfwang described Abdullahi’s death as a “monumental loss” to the community, highlighting that his “life was distinguished by an unwavering commitment to peace, unity, and the protection of the vulnerable, particularly women and children.” The imam’s bravery had been recognized in 2022 with a national honour by then-President Muhammadu Buhari, and three years earlier by former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo with the International Religious Freedom Award.
