The wife of slain Katsina Islamic cleric, Sheikh Yahaya Ibrahim Masussuka, has recounted how she heard four gunshots moments after her husband left their residence in Dutsin-Ma to teach his Islamic pupils, only to return outside and find him shot.
Hajiya Fatima Masussuka said the incident happened on Monday evening after she accompanied her husband outside their home as he prepared to leave for his teaching session with his Almajirai.
She said she returned inside when her husband realised he had forgotten his bag, but shortly afterwards, she heard gunshots.
“My name is Fatima. I felt very bad. I accompanied him outside the house so he could go to where he teaches his students, the Almajirai, but I returned inside because he had forgotten his bag,” she said.
Bandits kill Islamic cleric, friend in Katsina
“Before I knew what was happening, I heard four gunshots. When I came out, I discovered that he had been shot.”
Fatima described the deceased as a caring husband, adding that she was his second wife and that they had a daughter together.
The cleric and his friend, Adamu Abubakar, were shot dead by two armed men riding on a motorcycle in front of his residence in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area on Monday, according to the Katsina State Police Command.
The police said the victims were taken to a nearby hospital, where they were pronounced dead. The command has since deployed tactical and operational teams to track down the fleeing suspects.
President Bola Tinubu has condemned the killings and directed the police and other security agencies to intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu described the killings as heinous and an assault on peace and the sanctity of human life.
The President also extended condolences to the victims’ families, their followers and the government and people of Katsina State.
Meanwhile, the Ansaru terrorist group has reportedly claimed responsibility for the cleric’s killing in an audio message released on Tuesday, accusing him of being an infidel.
However, the police said they had yet to authenticate the claim.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, said investigators were working to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack.
“We heard of the rumour making the rounds, but we are yet to authenticate the claim. We are on the field, and once we conclude the investigation, we will make it public,” he said.
Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda also condemned the killing and called for a thorough investigation, urging residents to remain calm and provide credible information to security agencies.
Radda described Masussuka, popularly known as the “Peace Ambassador”, as a religious leader who promoted peaceful coexistence and understanding among people of different faiths.
The cleric had previously been involved in disputes over his preaching, with the state government directing him to appear before a committee of Islamic scholars to respond to complaints about his sermons.
Former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso also condemned the killing, expressing concern over attacks on religious scholars and other innocent citizens.
He called for stronger security measures to protect lives and ensure that those responsible were brought to justice.
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