MASUSUKA: Shocking assassination of outspoken cleric

•His brush with the Katsina government •Other clerics also killed By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo The assassination of Islamic cleric Sheikh Yahaya Masusuka in Katsina State has rekindled concerns over the safety of religious scholars in Northern Nigeria, bringing back painful memories of previous killings that shocked Muslim communities and raised questions about the protection of outspoken religious figures. Masusuka and his friend, Adamu Abubakar, were shot dead on Monday, October 26, 2026, by armed men who arrived on a motorcycle outside the cleric’s residence in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State. The circumstances surrounding the attack remain unclear, including the identities of the gunmen and their motive. However, the killing has drawn attention to a sad history of assassinations involving prominent Islamic scholars in the North.

Masusuka was known for his Qur’an-centred teachings, particularly his position that the Qur’an should be followed without reliance on Hadith traditions. His views generated disagreements with some Islamic scholars and attracted considerable attention on social media. Three decades He had reportedly spent more than three decades preaching Islam and studied at various institutions, including Al-Azhar University in Egypt. In November 2025, the Katsina State government summoned him following complaints about some of his teachings. The matter was referred to the Katsina Emirate Council for discussions, while Governor Dikko Radda directed him to respond to the allegations before a committee of Islamic scholars. His Secretary, Dr Mustapha Haruna, in an interview, also disclosed that the cleric had previously been arrested and spent some months in a correctional facility. The authorities have also received complaints from Masusuka that…