Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo has described the 83-year-old Muslim Cleric, Imam Abdullahi Abubakar,
who saved the lives of hundreds of persons fleeing from attacks by suspected
bandits in Yelwan Gindi Akwati, Swei and Nghar villages in Barkin Ladi local
government area of Plateau as a hero.
The people were fleeing
from attacks by suspected bandits.
Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu
Akande, in a statement on Thursday, May 30, in Abuja, said the vice president
gave the commendation when he received the cleric at the Presidential Villa.
The vice president received
Abubakar, the village head, Damafulul Mangai, and other community leaders and a
delegation which included diplomats from the US, UK and the European Union.
Abubakar, who is Hausa and
the chief imam of a mosque in Yelwan Gindi Akwati village, in the Barkin Ladi
local government area of Plateau state, alongside his assistant Umar Abdullahi,
who is Fulani, saved the lives of over 200 persons when suspected bandits
attacked communities in the LGA.
The reported attack took
place on June 23, 2018, on Yelwan Gindi Akwati, Swei and Nghar villages in
Barkin Ladi local government area of Plateau state, where scores of persons
were killed by suspected bandits.
Abubakar reportedly hid and
rescued over 200 persons who fled from nearby communities, inside the mosque
and in his personal house, until the attackers left.
Many of those the Muslim
Cleric provided shelter for were from the Berom ethnic group which are
predominantly Christians.
Reports indicated that
Abubakar, on defending “my guests”, insisted that the attackers would have to
kill him if they refused his pleas not to attack those he was hiding.
At a point, the Imam was
said to be on his knees and then rolling on the floor to appease the attackers.
Describing Abubakar’s act
as heroic, the vice president said that the Imam had done so much more to
promote peace by his singular acts than most politicians could do and so
deserves all the commendation and high honour.
Osinbajo urged politicians
to avoid using religion and tribal sentiment to create division among people,
noting that Abubakar had demonstrated to leaders that the way to resolve
whatever conflict was not by violence, but a demonstration of love.
He said: “I commend you for
your wonderful act.
“Imam Abubakar has
demonstrated one of the most courageous acts any man can possibly do, by
offering his own life, for those who are not people of his own tribe.
“I have heard a lot of
stories in our country, but this is one of the most compelling stories.
“The love an individual can
show for others not from their own tribe or religion, especially in a society
like ours where tribe and religion often come to play.”
The vice president urged
all Nigerians despite tribe and religion to eschew bitterness and embrace peace
and harmonious living.
“It is far easier for
people to create religious tensions between Christians or Muslims through their
acts or words.
“And in a community where
people have lived together in harmony and peace for so long, it shows how much
a little of such tension created, in a matter of hours, can destroy harmony and
peace built over the years.”
Before the attacks, the
community had reportedly lived in peace. Osinbajo said that most people in
Nigeria did not see the differences in tribe or religion, but it was easy to
stoke religious tensions and divisions.
According to him, one must
be careful of those who want to play politics and create differences using
religion and tribe as no tribe or religion is superior to another.
“When people have been
wronged, it is always easier for people to accept that revenge or vengeance is
the right approach.
“But as you know, vengeance
breeds bitterness and hatred and doesn’t solve the problems created, but causes
more deaths and harm.”
The vice president said it
was wrong for anyone to kill in the name of religion, noting that Abubakar’s
incredible act of courage in saving others passed a message to both Christians,
Muslims and others of different tribes and religion.
He said that Abubakar sent
a message to Muslims and Christians alike and other ethnic groups that their
own lives were as valuable as his own life.
“This is a very powerful
message. Also, by keeping them safe in a mosque, a sacred place; he sent a
strong message to Muslims that other religions and lives are equally as
important to God.
“The Imam did not preach
this by word but by deeds, love, by putting his life on the line to make a
point. That clearly demonstrates to all of us that it is un-Islamic to maim or
kill people in the name of religion.
“Like President Muhammadu
Buhari said, anyone who says “Allah Akbar”, and then goes to kill someone
either does not know his faith or is insane. It is the same in the Christian
faith.”
The gospel of Jesus Christ
says we must first love, even our enemies and those that despise us. And anyone
who preaches something different is certainly not speaking from the Bible or
the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
“President Buhari also said
during his meeting with the Catholic Bishops that all through his life as a
public servant, he believes that people should be judged by their character and
how they behave, and that everyone must have a right to worship God the way
they chose.”
The vice president further
said the federal government would look at further ways to improve the
communities in Barkin Ladi, and others affected by ethnic/religious crisis.
“We will look at how the
Plateau state government and the federal government can help in the
rehabilitation process.
“Government has been doing
this in phases, to restore areas devastated by crisis. But we would look at
ways to help further,” he said.
Abubakar, as well as his
deputy, Abdullahi, were recently honoured by the US Embassy in Nigeria, for the
heroic deeds.
Osinbajo said that Abubakar
should be celebrated everywhere in the world, adding that he was happy that the
US Ambassador had honoured him with an award.
In his remarks, Abubakar,
who spoke through an interpreter, thanked the vice president, noting that he
did not want it publicised.
He said, however, that he
felt that God chose him to do what he did to be used as an example. The Imam
said he told the attackers at some point that they had to kill him first before
harming his ‘guests’–that statement dissuaded them.
“I pleaded with the
attackers in the mud and rain not to harm my guests.
“By God’s grace, no one was
hurt. God created mankind differently but he wants us to live together in peace
and harmony, and not harm each other. Such incident (the attack) is rare in my
community, but I hope such does not happen in my village again,” he said.
The visit of the delegation
at the instance of the US deputy Chief of Mission, comprised of the United
States Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington; Deputy Chief of Mission, US
Embassy in Nigeria, David Young. Others are the US Embassy official, Kathleen
Fitzgibbon; and the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Bernhard Schlagheck.
Earlier, Legit.ng reported
that Imam Abubakar was honoured in Abuja alongside prominent Nigerians who had
distinguished themselves in various fields.
The deed of the
septuagenarian had earlier earned him a handshake and national honour from
President Buhari.
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