Ansaru, a Boko Haram splinter group affiliated with Al-Qaeda, has claimed responsibility for the killing of Islamic cleric Sheikh Yahaya Masussuka, accusing him of being an infidel over his alleged support for interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
Security analyst Bulama Bukarti disclosed this in a post, stating that the group confirmed its involvement in an audio message released on Tuesday.
According to Bukarti, the speaker in the recording said the attack was carried out at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, although he noted that the date could have been a mistake because the incident reportedly occurred on Monday.
Ansaru allegedly accused Masussuka of opposing Islam but did not identify any specific offence committed by the cleric. Instead, the group reportedly condemned his position on dialogue between people of different religious beliefs and peaceful coexistence, which Bukarti suggested may have contributed to his killing.
The analyst said the incident reflects a wider pattern of attacks against Islamic scholars who advocate peace and speak out against terrorism.
“Several emirs, imams and other Islamic scholars that have preached peace and spoken against terrorism have been assassinated or attacked in the past 15 years,” Bukarti stated.
Ansaru broke away from Boko Haram in 2012 following disagreements with the group’s then-leader, Abubakar Shekau. Since then, it has operated mainly in northwestern Nigeria, including Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger states.
Bukarti also noted that Masussuka had been preparing to organise a major peace conference, suggesting that his efforts to promote peaceful coexistence among followers of different religions may have made him a target.
The killing has renewed concerns about the safety of religious leaders who advocate dialogue and peaceful relations amid persistent insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria.
