Gunmen have shot dead a prominent Nigerian Islamic cleric known for challenging traditional religious teachings and promoting interfaith dialogue, police said.
Sheikh Yahaya Ibrahim Masussuka, 47, was killed outside his residence in Dutsin-Ma, in northern Katsina state, on Monday evening.
Two attackers riding a motorcycle opened fire at around 7:30 p.m. as the cleric was seeing off visitors, according to police.
Masussuka and his friend, identified as Adamu Abubakar, sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to hospital, where doctors pronounced them dead.
Police have launched an investigation and deployed additional security personnel to track down the attackers.
Masussuka was widely known for his unconventional interpretations of Islamic teachings, which frequently brought him into conflict with influential religious scholars.
His preaching relied heavily on the Quran, while he questioned the authenticity and authority of certain Hadiths, the traditions attributed to the Prophet Muhammad.
Among his most disputed positions was his rejection of the traditional Islamic belief that the dead are questioned by angels in their graves before the Day of Judgement.
His teachings attracted criticism from conservative religious figures, and he had reportedly received death threats on social media.
The cleric had previously spent nine months in prison following disputes involving prominent Islamic scholars.
Despite the controversy surrounding his religious views, Masussuka was an outspoken opponent of violent extremism and radicalisation.
He regularly advocated peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians in Nigeria, where religious tensions have contributed to decades of deadly violence.
In 2025, Nigeria’s Network for Good Governance and Transparency recognised his efforts with a Peace Ambassador Award.
Masussuka began preaching at the age of 13 and later pursued Islamic studies at Egypt’s Al-Azhar University before continuing his education in Oman.
He subsequently built a substantial online following, publishing recorded sermons and religious discussions from a studio at his residence.
The militant group Ansaru has claimed responsibility for the killing, according to Nigerian newspaper Premium Times, which reported obtaining a video in which the group cited Masussuka’s religious positions and support for interfaith coexistence.
The claim has not been independently verified, and police have not publicly established responsibility for the attack.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu condemned the killings and instructed security agencies to intensify efforts to identify and arrest those responsible.
The assassination adds to concerns over the safety of religious figures in northern Nigeria, where several prominent Muslim clerics have been killed over the past two decades, including preachers targeted by Boko Haram for opposing its extremist ideology.
