Nigeria’s Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, is dead
*El-Rufai mourns
Prominent Nigeria’s Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, is dead.
A family source confirmed the death of the revered Islamic scholar earlier on Thursday November 27, 2025 saying, “It is with a heavy heart and complete submission to the will of Allah (SAW) that we receive the news of the passing of our revered leader, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, one of the leaders of the Tijjaniyya order in Nigeria.”
Another source, who also confirmed the demise of the late religious leader, prayed for the deceased.
His brief post concluded, “May Allah forgive his shortcomings, accept his noble deeds and grant him Jannatul Firdaus. Ameen.”
The deceased’s son, Sayyadi Ali Dahiru Usman Bauchi, also confirmed his death to Daily Trust.
“It is confirmed. Sheikh has returned to his creator. We are all from Allah and to Him we shall all return.
“It is time for Sheikh to rest. We thank Almighty Allah. Allah has done everything for us to spare the life of Sheikh till this time. Sheikh’s life was well spent. Alhamdulillah.
“I’m right now in Madinah, so I cannot confirm to you where the remains of the Sheikh will be buried; maybe in Abuja or Bauchi,” he said.
Meanwhile, PUNCH Online reports that the family and the Bauchi State Government have yet to make an official announcement.
Details of the death of the great Islamic scholar will be presented later.
El-Rufai
In the meantime, former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has expressed his condolences over the death of the sheikh.
In his statement by his X titled, “NIGERIA UPDATE: Another Great Nigerian is gone! – SHEIKH DAHIRU USMAN BAUCHI – Condolences and Tribute – by: Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai – 27th November, 2025”, the former governor said:
“Inna LilLahi wa Inna Ilaihi Raji’un!
“I join millions of people across the world to mourn the transition of Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi. Though known originally to be from Bauchi State, the Sheikh had a clear and dominant spiritual presence in Kaduna where several mosques have been built and named in his honour.
“Sheikh Dahiru was an authority in Tafsir, the interpretation of the glorious Quran, and a man of deep knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence, the religious sciences, and Eastern philosophy.
“In my many interactions with him, I saw a man of great wisdom and immense spiritual depth, that I personally revered and learnt from. We didn’t agree all the time, but his points of view were carefully debated and appreciated, as his integrity was beyond reproach.
“My colleagues in the Kaduna State government between 2015 and 2023 recognized and appreciated Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi as a foremost Islamic scholar, community leader, and guiding light of the Tijjaniyya branch of Sufi Islam in Nigeria and Africa. Tijjaniyya is one of our largest religious movements in the world in which the late sage taught, led and inspired tens of millions of adherents across several generations.
“From his enviable base in Kaduna, he became an Islamic and philosophical institution across Nigeria and Africa and was revered indisputably as a spiritual leader of knowledge and integrity. His life was an example of humility and impeccable leadership.
“My deep condolences therefore go to his immediate family, His Royal Highness, Muhammadu Sanusi Ii, the Khalifa and paramount leader of Tijjaniyya in Nigeria and beyond, the government and people of Bauchi State, and all of the late Sheikh’s followers in Kaduna State, and worldwide.
“May Allah comfort his family and followers, and grant him Aljanna Firdaus. Amin,” Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai said in Kaduna on Thursday November 27, 2025.
