Nigeria: the imam who saved Christians by hiding them in his mosque has died

The imam Abubakar Abdullahia respected figure in Plateau State, died on Thursday evening at the age of 92, at the Plateau Specialist Hospital. Josfollowing cardiac complications.

Originally from the village of NgharImam Abdullahi distinguished himself in June 2018 during intercommunal violence in the Barkin Ladi area. At the height of the attacks by armed men, he opened his mosque and his home to shelter more than 260 Christians, saving their lives at the risk of his own.

This gesture of courage earned him recognition well beyond Nigeria. In 2019, he received from the US Department of State the International Religious Freedom Award for his commitment to religious freedom. In 2022, the Nigerian state also decorated him with a national distinction. Tributes multiplied after the announcement of his death. The Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwangsaluted a man “of faith, compassion and justice”, whose action strengthened coexistence and interreligious dialogue. Former vice president Atiku Abubakar also recalled the exemplary role of the imam during the 2018 crisis, calling for the legacy of peace that he leaves behind to be kept alive.

Imam Abubakar Abdullahi was buried on Friday in Nghar, after Friday prayers. His journey remains, for many in Nigeria, a rare symbol of moral courage and shared humanity.

The disappearance of Imam Abubakar Abdullahi is a reminder of what is missing in many regions affected by community violence in Nigeria: moral figures capable of refusing the logic of hatred and translating religion into concrete actions. By opening his mosque to threatened Christians, he showed that faith can protect, soothe and save, rather than divide. In a context where identity conflicts are often fueled or used for political purposes, his journey directly challenges religious and political leaders on their ability to bring to life, beyond speeches, a true culture of protection of civilians, respect for human life and coexistence.