Islamic cleric, who saved 300 Christians from being killed in Plateau, listed for National Honour
*Kebbi teacher, who dared bandits to save students, too
Imam Abdullahi Abubakar, an Islamic cleric in Plateau State, is one of the 437 persons nominated by the Federal Government to receive national honours this year.
Abubakar, for his contributions to advancement of peaceful co-existence among which was the effort he makes to instill love, support and respect for individual religious values and personality safety in Nigeria, will be decorated with the award of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).
The awards will be presented by President Muhammadu Buhari on October 11, 2022 at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja.
Essentially, Imam Abubakar hid 300 Christians in his mosque and vehemently stood his ground, despite threats, when suspected bandits attacked 10 communities in his Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State in June 2018.
Speaking on what informed his decision, the cleric had described it as a “gamble with his life”.
“I have never experienced such a terrible situation as this in my life. The recent ugly incident is unprecedented,” he had said.
His action has fetched him widespread recognition across the world, and in 2019, the Islamic cleric was announced as one of the recipients of the United States International Religious Freedom Award, coming from a country some elements claim to their foreign collaborators that Muslims do not tolerate Christians.
Also on the list of nominees is Malam Muktar Gulma, a teacher who was said to have insisted on sticking with his students during an attack on the Federal Government College (FGC) in Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State.
He was said to have been eventually released alongside some of the students.
Gulma is on the list of nominees for the award of member of the order of the Niger (MON).
