Abubakar Abdullahi,the imam of Nghar village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, who saved 262 Christians during a violent communal attack, has died at the age of 90.
Saleh Abubakar, the son of the deceased, confirmed the death, saying the Imam passed away on Thursday night at the Plateau Specialist Hospital,Jos.
He disclosed that his father died about ten days after being admitted to the hospital, following complications linked to a heart condition that had affected his health for some time.
He said, “He died ten days after he was admitted. He was initially diagnosed with a heart problem. He’d go for check-ups and return. His health hadn’t been stable since the heart disease diagnosis.”
Imam Abdullahi is survived by 19 children, 12 boys and seven girls.
In June 2018, during deadly communal clashes that swept through 10 villages in Barkin Ladi, the late imam hid 262 Christians in a mosque and his private residence until the violence subsided, preventing them from being killed.
His actions earned him local and international recognition, including the International Religious Freedom Award presented by the United States Department of State in 2019.
Imam Abdullahi will be buried today in his Nghar village after Jumu’at prayer
