The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Nigeria, has urged religious leaders, educators, media organisations and policymakers to sustain and promote the legacy of the late Imam Abdullahi Abubakar as a model for peaceful coexistence and national unity.
Imam Abubakar, a respected cleric from Plateau State, rose to national and international prominence during the 2018 communal violence in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, where he reportedly saved more than 300 lives.
At the peak of the crisis, he sheltered hundreds of Christians fleeing attacks, offering them refuge in his mosque and private residence despite the personal risks involved.
The cleric protected the displaced victims for several weeks until calm was restored, an act of courage and humanity that earned him Nigeria’s Humanitarian of the Year Award in 2019.
In a statement issued at the weekend, MPAC described the late imam as a national hero whose life reflected exceptional courage, compassion and moral leadership. The organisation noted that his actions were firmly grounded in Islamic teachings that uphold the sanctity of human life, justice and mercy.
Commenting on the imam’s heroism, MPAC Executive Chairman, Alhaji Disu Kamor, said Imam Abubakar’s conduct was in line with a longstanding Islamic tradition of safeguarding the innocent, irrespective of faith or background.
“Only those unfamiliar with the moral and historical traditions of Islam would be surprised by such a noble deed. Imam Abdullahi Abubakar stood within a lineage of Muslim exemplars who placed humanity above hostility and conscience above conflict,” Kamor said.
MPAC also likened the late cleric’s actions to historic examples of religious tolerance, including the protection of Christians by 19th-century Algerian leader Amir Abd al-Qadir in Damascus and the Prophet Muhammad’s forgiveness of his former persecutors in Makkah.
“As the nation mourns his passing, we call on religious leaders, educators, media organisations and policymakers to uphold and promote Imam Abubakar’s legacy as a model of peaceful coexistence and nation-building,” the statement added.