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Kaduna Central senatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Shehu Sani has identified three common traits among prominent Islamic clerics assassinated in Northern Nigeria in the last fifteen years.
Sani identified the traits in an X post on Tuesday, following the Monday fatal shooting of Katsina-based cleric, Sheikh Yahaya Masussuka.
The former Kaduna Central senator said the slain clerics shared the traits of speaking out against extremism, advocating for inter-religious tolerance and peace, and mentioning the name of terror leaders or groups in their sermons.
“All the prominent clerics that have been assassinated in the North in the last fifteen years have three common factors that undoubtedly led to their elimination; speaking out against extremism, advocating for inter religious tolerance and peace and mentioning the name of terror leaders or groups by their name in their sermons,” Sani stated.
He recalled his own experience in 2011 when he and former President Olusegun Obasanjo went to Maiduguri to initiate dialogue for peace.
“In 2011, Ex President Obasanjo and myself privately went to Maiduguri to initiate a dialogue for peace, after the event we headed back to Abuja; the next day, the man who facilitated the dialogue was eliminated, and we received threats. The terrorists want silence or they will silence,” the socio-political commentator stated.
Sheikh Masussuka, who is well known for preaching against violent extremism, was assassinated at about 7:30 pm on Monday, October 26, in front of his residence in Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State.
According to the Katsina State Police Command, two armed men on a motorcycle opened fire, killing Masussuka and his friend, Adamu Abubakar. Both were pronounced dead at the hospital.
Governor Dikko Radda, Amnesty International, and other groups have condemned the killing and called for thorough investigation.
