The President describes the late Plateau cleric as a symbol of faith, humanity and peaceful coexistence

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Imam Abdullahi Abubakar, the Chief Imam of Nghar village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, describing him as a courageous servant of God and a shining example of true faith.

Imam Abubakar, who died at the age of 92, gained national and international recognition in 2018 after sheltering more than 200 Christians during violent communal clashes in Plateau State, an act widely praised as a rare display of interfaith solidarity.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu said the late cleric’s life was a powerful testament to courage, conscience and the sanctity of human life.

The President noted that at a time when ethnic and religious sentiments threatened peaceful coexistence, Imam Abubakar chose the path of peace and humanity.

“Mindless of the enormous risk to his own life, the noble cleric chose humanity over division, love over hatred and embrace rather than rejection,” Tinubu said.

He added that the Imam’s actions spoke louder than sermons, describing his bravery as a defining lesson on the true essence of faith and moral responsibility.

President Tinubu recalled that the cleric’s heroic actions earned him both local and international recognition, celebrating his commitment to peaceful coexistence among people of different religious and ethnic backgrounds.

The President urged religious and community leaders across the country to emulate Imam Abubakar’s virtues by promoting tolerance, mutual respect and peaceful living.

He prayed for the repose of the late cleric’s soul, asking God to grant him eternal rest and reward him for his courage and good deeds.

Imam Abdullahi Abubakar is survived by family members and a legacy widely regarded as a symbol of hope and unity in Nigeria’s history of interfaith relations.