Plateau community mourns Chief Imam who risked life to protect hundreds of Christians during 2018 crisis

Imam Abubakar Abdullahi of Yelwa, Barkin Ladi, Plateau State, has died. He saved nearly 300 lives during 2018 attacks and won global recognition

Imam Abubakar Abdullahi, the Chief Imam of Yelwa, Gindin Akwati in Barkin Ladi, Plateau State, has passed away, marking the loss of a revered religious and community leader.

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The late cleric gained national and international recognition in June 2018 when armed attackers stormed Barkin Ladi communities.

Demonstrating remarkable courage, he opened his mosque and home to shelter hundreds of Christians, reportedly saving nearly 300 lives. He refused to hand over the refugees despite threats to his own life.

For his bravery, Imam Abdullahi was awarded the 2019 International Religious Freedom Award by the United States government.

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, in a statement issued by his Press and Public Affairs Director Gyang Bere on Friday, described the Imam’s death as “a monumental loss to his immediate family, his community, and Plateau State at large.”

The governor praised the late Imam for his “unwavering commitment to peace, unity, and protection of the vulnerable, particularly women and children,” noting that his guidance and unifying presence would be deeply missed.

“He urged the immediate family and the entire community to take solace in the knowledge that the late Imam lived a life of faith, compassion, and fairness, leaving behind a legacy of service and peaceful coexistence,” the statement added.

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Imam Abdullahi’s life and deeds remain a lasting testament to courage, humanitarianism, and interfaith harmony in Plateau State and beyond.

David Okere