Thousands of Muslims and Christians have gathered in Katsina State to pray for national peace and demand a thorough investigation into the killing of Islamic cleric Sheikh Yahaya Ibrahim Masussuka.
The gathering, held on Saturday at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina, brought together religious leaders, scholars and peace advocates from Nigeria and neighbouring African countries, including Chad, Cameroon, Senegal and Niger Republic.
Masussuka was shot dead alongside his associate, Adamu Abubakar, on October 26, 2026, outside his residence in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State. Police said two armed men riding on a motorcycle opened fire on the victims before fleeing. Both men later died from their injuries.
The cleric was known for his Quran-centred teachings and advocacy for peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians. He also established Qur’an TV/Radio and Masussuka International School in Dutsin-Ma in April 2024.
His killing attracted renewed attention after the armed group Ansaru claimed responsibility for the attack in a video, citing his advocacy for interfaith coexistence and aspects of his religious teachings. However, the circumstances surrounding the attack remain subject to investigation.
The peace gathering was organised by the Qur’aniya Believers Harmony for Peace Initiative, which Masussuka championed before his death. It focused on religious tolerance, peaceful coexistence, national unity and credible elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at the event, Mustapha Haruna, secretary of the initiative, thanked participants for attending despite the death of the movement’s leader.
He said the large turnout demonstrated that Masussuka’s vision of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence remained alive.
The Katsina State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Father Richard Shaibu Liti, offered prayers for an end to insecurity and corruption, urging Nigerians to support the emergence of responsible leaders who would prioritise citizens’ welfare and security.
Similarly, Islamic cleric Sheikh Alhasan Lamido condemned Masussuka’s killing, saying those responsible had wrongly assumed that eliminating the cleric would bring his peace movement to an end.
He urged Muslims and Christians to reject religious hostility, stressing that differences in faith, ethnicity and background should not become grounds for hatred or violence.
Professor Danladi Yahya, who represented Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, described the killing as unjustifiable and an attack on the collective aspirations of people working towards religious harmony.
He called for a thorough investigation, adding that bringing those responsible to justice was a collective responsibility.
Also speaking, Islamic cleric Sheikh Nura Khalid urged the government and security agencies to investigate the murder, arrest those responsible and ensure their prosecution.
He also called for action against armed groups and individuals making inflammatory statements capable of inciting religious hatred.
A Christian cleric, Apostle Bulus, described Masussuka as an advocate of religious understanding whose influence had helped break barriers between Muslims and Christians.
He disclosed that the late cleric’s example had inspired him to enter a mosque for the first time during activities organised in his honour.
Similarly, Rev. Elisha Pam, who represented Rev. Yohana Y. Buru, condemned the killing, describing it as a criminal act that should not be given religious justification.
He urged the government to identify and arrest those responsible, while calling for sustained interfaith engagement among Nigerians.
The gathering ended with prayers for national stability, justice for Masussuka and peaceful elections in 2027.
