The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has mourned the death of the Chief Imam of Nghar Village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Sheikh Abdullahi Abubakar, describing him as an enduring symbol of peace, courage and interfaith harmony.
Sheikh Abdullahi Abubakar died at the age of 92 after a brief illness.
In a condolence message released on behalf of the Forum, the NSGF Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Yahaya, said the late cleric’s life exemplified selfless leadership and uncommon humanity.
The statement was signed by Ismaila Misilli, Director-General Press Affairs Gombe Government House on Friday.
“Late Sheikh Abdullahi Abubakar was an extraordinary embodiment of peace whose actions transcended religious and ethnic boundaries, earning him national and global admiration,” the Governor said.
Governor Yahaya recalled the Imam’s heroic role during the 2018 Barkin Ladi crisis, when he sheltered about 200 Christians in his mosque and personal residence, shielding them from violent attacks at great personal risk.
“At a time of deep national distress, he stood firmly for the sanctity of human life. His insistence that ‘we are all human beings’ remains a powerful moral lesson for Nigeria and the world,” he stated.
The NSGF Chairman noted that the Imam’s actions projected Northern Nigeria as a region defined by compassion, coexistence and shared humanity, rather than division.
According to him, the late cleric’s rare courage and commitment to peace attracted national and international recognition, including the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) and the United States International Religious Freedom Award.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya urged Nigerians, especially religious and community leaders, to draw inspiration from the life of the late Imam by promoting tolerance, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence across faiths and ethnic divides.
“The values he upheld should continue to guide our collective efforts toward building a more united and peaceful society,” he added.
On behalf of the Northern Governors’ Forum, the governor extended condolences to the family of Sheikh Abdullahi Abubakar, the Plateau State Government, and the Muslim and Christian communities who benefited from his exemplary leadership.
He prayed Almighty Allah to grant the late cleric Aljannat Firdaus and to comfort his family and loved ones in this moment of profound loss.
