Sokoto Mosque Attack: Lukuwa’s Followers Reject Probe Panel, Demand Open Debate

Followers of Sheikh Musa Lukuwa have rejected the committee set up by the Sokoto State Government to investigate the recent attack at the Musa Lukuwa Jumu’at Mosque in Mabera, alleging a lack of confidence in its membership.

The state government announced on Monday the closure of the mosque and constituted a committee of Islamic scholars, headed by the Chief Imam of Sultan Bello Mosque, Sheikh Malami Akwara, to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the incident.

However, speaking on Thursday on behalf of the Lukuwa movement, a leading disciple of the cleric, Malam Murtala Asada, said the followers would not get justice from the panel.

“On behalf of the entire Lukuwa movement, we reject the statement by the Sokoto State Government on the establishment of this committee to investigate the Lukuwa incident,” Asada said.

According to him, the committee’s composition is biased due to sectarian differences and prior disagreements between some members and Sheikh Lukuwa.

“We do not believe in the people who comprise the committee. There is a difference in sect. They will not do us justice.

There are instances, especially with the chairman of the committee, who is the Chief Imam of Sultan Bello Mosque, and those with him. They have had issues with Sheikh Lukuwa in the past. That is why we rejected the entire committee,” he stated.

Asada, however, said the movement was ready to subject the cleric to an open, scholarly debate.

“What we want is for the state government to organise a forum and invite scholars to come and challenge Sheikh Musa Lukuwa on facts. If Musa Lukuwa is found to be misleading people, we are ready to accept whatever consequences or penalties the government will impose on him,” he said.

He stressed that the controversy surrounding the cleric is an academic and doctrinal matter that should be resolved through superior Islamic knowledge and evidence, not administrative fiat.

“This is a matter of knowledge; it is an academic, scholarly discussion. It is like bringing somebody who is not a journalist to debate journalism. These scholars can bring all the books that counter Lukwa. Lukuwa will defend himself. If he is not able to defend himself, then he will be punished accordingly,” Asada added.

It would be recalled that Sheikh Lukuwa was stabbed in the neck by a worshipper shortly after leading the Jumu’at prayer on 11 September, in an incident that led to the lynching of the attacker by worshippers and the subsequent closure of the mosque as a crime scene by the state government.