Emmanuel Ogebe, ESQ, lauds heroic cleric who saved 300 Christians, proving religious persecution as Nigeria has 70% of 2025 killings globally.

Imam Abubakar Abdullahi, a Plateau-based Muslim cleric who heroically restrained Fulani Killer Militias from mass murdering 262 Christians, during the June 2018 Barkin Ladi Xland massacres that claimed over 200 lives, has been reported dead.

I was honoured to be present at the U.S. State Department for his International Religious Freedom Award in 2019. Ironically my relative, his pregnant wife and their four and six-year-old son and daughter were amongst the over 200 Christians he was unable to save that dreadful weekend but yet his actions endear him to even us whose loved ones he couldn’t save.

Apart from international recognition, Abubakar Abdullahi, attracted development to the Nghar village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State. Some years ago, my aid consortium was requested by the U.S. Agency for International Development at the U.S. embassy in Nigeria for assistance in building a bridge to his village. It is quite noteworthy that the American global aid agency had already installed electricity and water in his community before seeking our assistance to build a bridge there. Indeed the U.S. ambassador Mary Beth Leonard visited the esteemed cleric in his community in Plateau state.

Dying the same day that the World Watch Monitor report revealed that Nigeria accounted for 70% of all Christian persecution deaths globally in 2025, sealing our record as world capital of Christian martyrdom, it is instructive that Imam Abubakar Abdullahi did more to save lives than the $9 million Nigeria is spending on US lobbyists re this issue. https://www.opendoorsus.org/en-US/persecution/countries/

In Australia last month, a Muslim immigrant Ahmed acted heroically and overpowered a terrorist who had killed a dozen people and was himself injured, received over $1million in donations from the public. His impact like Imam Abubakar was good Muslims standing up to bad Muslims to save innocent lives.

As follow sheikhs make money, seek relevance and pursue attention by hobnobbing with, defending and even promoting terrorists as their brothers, Imam Abubakar chose brotherhood of humanity over brotherhood of religiosity thus living out a sermon that touched the world.

Rather than wallow in genocide and persecution denials, they should emulate his example and work to save lives. An abiding legacy of Imam Abubakar is not just his heroic humanity but the eloquent veracity of his actions - in saving about 300 Christians by hiding them in his mosque and home, he proved to world that there is indeed religious targeting of Christians in Nigeria no matter how much is paid to cover up the truth.

May his legacy live long and strong and may his tribe increase. May mercy speak for him as he spoke mercy for others.

We urge more Muslims in Nigeria to be like the Australian Syrian Ahmed who stopped an attacker and Imam Abubakar who shielded innocents from attackers regardless of being co-religionists.

When Boko Haram terrorists arrived in parts of Yobe, local Yobe Muslims cheered and warmly welcomed them. They took advantage of and bought for cheap the property of fleeing Christians. Then after there were no Christians left, their economy tanked and Boko Haram started robbing fellow Muslims.

Imam Abubakar’s heroic saving of his Christian neighbours brought blessing.

• Ogebe is a Washington-based international human rights lawyer.

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