Plateau Killings: 83-year-old Muslim cleric to receive presidential handshake for saving Christians
When crisis broke out in Jos, Plateau State months ago, Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar saved no lesser than 300 persons – most of them Christians.
The Imam of Nghar village, Gashish District in the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, sheltered fleeing residents from rampaging herdsmen who killed about 200 persons.
The cleric said he hid the women in his “personal house and after that, I took the men into the mosque and hid them there”.
The bandits were said to have showed up at his door step later, forcefully demanding that he release those who were Christians in the mosque.
Abubakar told them that all those in the mosque were Muslims. The attackers left.
President Buhari will now honour the 83-year-old cleric for his heroics, with a handshake and national honour.
Plateau State governor Solomon Lalong said recognition of Abubakar by Buhari will be part of three-day peace and security conference with the theme, “The resurgence of violence in Plateau State: Towards a multi-stakeholder partnership for peace and security.”
“The President has told me to bring Imam Abdullahi Abubakar for a hand shake which will be followed by a national honour. I was also preparing what to do for this man. Although he is already in his old age, God knows why he did it at that age for us to study and also know how to maintain peace, not only in Plateau State but in Nigeria in general,” governor Lalong said.
“What he did not only saved the people of Barkin Ladi LGA, not only Plateau State but I think the whole of this country because 300 lives is not a small number. So, Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar, only God will reward you for what you have done.
“We are waiting for that process of meeting the President for a handshake and national honour. Having a handshake with Mr President at the age of 83, I think the man will be happy, even if he is going to his grave, that something has happened in his life.”
