Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan, popularly often called Ansaru, has claimed responsibility for the killing of Katsina-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Yahaya Masusuka, PREMIUM TIMES can report.
The cleric was shot lifeless alongside one other man, recognized by police as Adamu Abubakar, exterior his residence on Monday night.
The Katsina State Police Command mentioned two armed males driving on a bike opened hearth on the 2 at about 7:30 p.m. earlier than fleeing the scene.
The victims have been rushed to a close-by hospital, the place they have been pronounced lifeless, in response to the police.
The command mentioned it had launched an investigation and deployed tactical and operational groups to trace down the assailants.
Mr Masusuka was identified for his Quran-centred teachings and advocacy for peaceable coexistence amongst Nigerians of all faiths. He had additionally spoken towards violent extremism and radicalisation.
Amnesty International condemned his killing and known as on Nigerian authorities to analyze the assault and produce these accountable to justice. The organisation additionally mentioned the cleric had confronted threats and intimidation throughout his life.
Ansaru claims responsibility
In a four-minute video completely obtained by PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday, the phobia group mentioned its fighters killed Mr Masusuka round 8:30 pm, citing his interfaith peaceable coexistence, amongst different issues, as causes for his killing.
Describing the deceased as an arnai (infidel), the group mentioned it was “happy” to announce his killing, which was carried out by “soldiers among soldiers of Allah.”
“Masusuka is an (arnai) infidel, not a Muslim,” the group mentioned. “He was contracted to disrupt Islam and confuse Muslims.”
Ansaru mentioned Mr Masusuka had been invited by [clerics] for a mukabala (debate), however he declined.
The group additionally issued a warning to “other infidels” who “belittle the Hadiths of the Prophet.
“You should repent. You should stop, or else we are coming for you,” it mentioned.
This improvement is disturbing, mentioned Taiwo Adebayo, a battle and safety governance researcher with Institute of Security Studies (ISS) Africa.
“This means these are not just a territorial threat as they can track and kill those who don’t agree with their ideology or who they consider threats even if those targets live far away from their bases,” he mentioned.
PREMIUM TIMES understands that Ansaru now operates in Nigeria’s North-central area, years after relocating from the North-west.
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The group has confronted a number of crackdowns by Nigerian authorities, most just lately the arrests of its leaders, Abu Bara’a and Mallam Mamuda.
The group didn’t point out these concerned within the assault. However, it’s unlikely that it might mobilise fighters from its Nigeria-Benin border enclaves for the killing.
“It’s also possible that they outsource the assassination or intelligence gathering leading to the Sheikh to local bandits,” Mr Adebayo mentioned.
“In the early days of Boko Haram insurgency, they operated like this, sending, ordering hits on clerics and political figures in towns, while hiding in the bush,” he added.
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