One year after doing what is hardly heard of a typical Nigerian in a country where ethnic and religious sentiment has impeded national peace, security, unity, progress and development, Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar was Wednesday honoured in the United States of America (USA).
Imam Abubakar saved about 300 Christians from death by the hands of bandits claiming to be revenging for souls of ethnic Fulani and religious group’s members killed by the Plateau State community of Berom Christians.
Omokugbo Ojeifo, in a post furthered shared by Mohammed Suleiman, made this known to largely social media audience, on Wednesday.
He said Wednesday that: “Today, the 83-year-old Nigerian Imam Abdullahi Abubakar will be among four other nationals (from Sudan, Brazil, Iraq and Cyprus) to receive the first-ever International Religious Freedom Award of the United States Government.
“He is the Imam of Nghar village who hid 262 Berom Christians in his mosque and in his house in June last year when herdsmen launched a bloody attack on 10 villages in Barkin Ladi, Plateau State.
“I believe that we need to amplify such uplifting stories of men and women who stand in defence of human life, in promotion of religious liberty and in advancing the cause of peace around the world.
“In a country such as Nigeria where religious difference has the potential of turning deadly, Imam Abubakar is a shining symbol of hope for a better future, where Muslims and Christians will see themselves first as human beings, as brothers and sisters created by the One God,” he said.
Imam Abdullahi Abubakar selflessly risked his own life to save members of another religious community, who would have likely been killed without his intervention.
On June 23, 2018, bandits, who paraded themselves as Muslims, launched coordinated attacks on 10 villages in Barkin Ladi, killing hundreds of ethnic Berom farmers, who are predominantly Christians on reprisal grounds for Berom’s killings in the Jos, Plateau State community.
As Imam Abubakar was finishing midday prayers, he and his congregation, Muslims, heard gunshots and went outside only to see members of the town’s Christian community fleeing.Instinctively, the Imam ushered about 300 Christians into the mosque and his home next to the mosque.
The Imam then went outside to confront the gunmen eho areaof his ethnic Fulani and Muslim groug and refused to allow them to enter, pleading with them to spare the Christians inside, even offering to sacrifice his life for theirs. Although the gunmen killed 84 people in Nghar village that day, Imam Abdullahi’s actions saved the lives of hundreds more.
Born in Bauchi State around 1936, the Imam has lived in Nghar for 60 years and led the Muslim community through the mosque.
Imam Abubakar Abdullahi’s courage in the face of imminent danger and his history of outreach across religious divides demonstrates his lifelong commitment to promoting interfaith understanding and peace.
