Gunmen kill Islamic cleric, friend in Katsina

File photo: Illustration image of gunmen

Gunmen have killed an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Yahaya Masussuka, and his friend, Adamu Abubakar, in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The Katsina State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement issued late Monday by its Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq.

According to the police, the attack occurred at about 7.30pm on Monday, October 26, 2026, in front of the cleric’s residence, when two armed men on a motorcycle opened fire on the victims.

“The victims were immediately rushed to the nearest hospital for medical attention, where they were unfortunately pronounced dead by the attending medical doctor,” the statement said.

The police said the Divisional Police Officer in Dutsin-Ma led a team of operatives to the scene after receiving a report of the attack.

The Commissioner of Police, Ali Umar Fage, has ordered the deployment of tactical and operational teams to the area, while an investigation has commenced to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.

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The command said the commissioner extended his condolences to the families, friends and followers of the deceased, as well as residents of Dutsin-Ma.

It added that the police would continue efforts to apprehend those responsible and bring them to justice, assuring the public that further developments would be communicated.

This came barely a week after some gunmen killed a serving officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and abducted a businessman in Pushit community, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The incident occurred at about 9:30 pm on Monday, despite a dusk-to-dawn curfew recently imposed in parts of the area following repeated attacks.