Tension gripped parts of Sokoto metropolis on Friday after worshippers killed a man who allegedly stabbed an Islamic cleric, Malam Musa Lukwa, shortly after he led the Juma’at prayer at his mosque in the Mabera area of the city.
The attacker, reportedly a young man among the worshippers, allegedly stabbed the cleric twice in the neck before other worshippers overpowered and killed him.
The incident triggered protests by some youths in parts of the metropolis and heightened tension in some areas including Sahara, Bello Way and Aliyu Jodi, forcing several shop owners to close their businesses for fear of possible attacks.
Residents were also seen leaving some commercial areas as security operatives moved into strategic locations to maintain law and order.
Saturday PUNCH gathered that the incident might not be unconnected with a previous sermon delivered by the cleric, which some Islamic scholars and their followers considered offensive to the parents of Prophet Muhammad.
