Imam Abubakar Abdullahi, the courageous Nigerian Muslim cleric who famously shielded 262 Christians during a 2018 attack in his mosque at Barkin Ladies LGA, Plateau State, has passed away at the age of 90.
He died on the night of Thursday, January 15, 2026, at the Plateau Specialist Hospital in Jos, following a 10-day admission for a heart-related condition.
Who is Imam Abubakar Abdullahi
Imam Abubakar Abdullahi was born in 1936 in Bauchi State.
His heroic stance:
In June 2018, while serving as the Chief Imam of Nghar village in Barkin Ladi LGA, he hid 262 Christian villagers in his mosque and personal home during a violent, religiously charged attack by suspected cattle herders.
When attackers demanded he hand over the Christians, he refused, risking his own life and telling them to kill him first.
Recognition:
In 2019, he was honored by the U.S. State Department with the International Religious Freedom Award for his selflessness.
He was also conferred the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) by former President Muhammadu Buhari. The award was presented on October 11, 2022, at the State House in Abuja.
Condolences:
The President, Pres. Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR paid tribute to him for his firm stance on interfaith harmony and religious freedom.
He noted in a press statement by Bayo Onanuga, ‘At such a time when tribal and religious tendencies seemed to overwhelm reason, Imam Abubakar stood firmly on the side of peace, benevolence and conscience. Mindless of the enormous risk to his own life, the noble cleric chose humanity over division, love as opposed to hatred and embrace rather than rejection.’
In the same vein, the Governor of Plateau State, Gov. Caleb Mutfwang commended the late cleric for his tireless advocacy for interfaith harmony, building bridges of forgiveness, compassion, and empathy among diverse communities across the state and beyond.
Funeral
He was buried on Friday 16th January 2026 according to Islamic rites. His memory remains a powerful symbol of interfaith unity.