Imam Abdullahi Abubakar Chief Imam | |
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Chief Imam | |
Personal details | |
Born | Bauchi | 1 January 1936
Nationality | Nigerian |
Residence(s) | Nghar, Barkin Ladi LGA |
Imam Abdullahi Abubakar is an Islamic cleric and humanitarian. He is best known for saving the lives of 262 non-Muslims, predominantly Christian, during an attack on his community by bandits. [1] [2] [3]
Iman Abdullahi Abubakar was born in 1936 in Bauchi, Bauchi state, Nigeria. [4]
Imam Abubakar is the Chief Imam of Akwatti Mosque in Nghar, a community in Barkin Ladi local government area of Plateau State. In 2018, there was an attack on Yelwan Gindi Akwati, Swei and Nghar villages where 80 persons were killed by suspected bandits. [5] [6]
The Imam was able to save the lives of 262 people, predominantly Christians from the Birom tribe, by sheltering them in his mosque as attackers roamed the villages. [5]
In July 2019, Imam Abdullahi Abubakar received the International Religious Freedom Award from the United States government, which is granted to supporters of religious freedom, together with four other religious leaders from Sudan, Iraq, Brazil, and Cyprus. [7] [6]
In August 2019, President Buhari authorized the inclusion of Imam Abdullahi Abubakar in the membership of the national Ulama committee and was part of an 80-man Ulama committee charged with the responsibility of educating Nigerian pilgrims in Mina during the 2019 Hajj.