By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo
The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has called on the Federal Government and the Katsina State Government to ensure a thorough investigation into the killing of Islamic scholar, Sheikh Yahaya Ibrahim Masusuka, and bring those responsible to justice.
The council, in a statement issued on Monday by its president, Comrade Isah Abubakar, condemned the killing of the cleric, describing it as a grave attack on Islamic scholarship and the moral fabric of Northern Nigeria.
According to reports, Sheikh Masusuka was shot dead at about 7:30 p.m. on Monday in front of his residence in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State by gunmen riding on a motorcycle.
His friend, identified as Adamu Abubakar, was also killed in the attack.
Both men were reportedly taken to a hospital but were pronounced dead on arrival.
The Katsina State Police Command said an investigation had commenced, while efforts were being made to apprehend the assailants. The identities of the attackers and the motive for the killings had yet to be established in the reports available.
Reacting to the incident, the NYCN described the late cleric as a revered scholar and mentor whose teachings of the Holy Qur’an had inspired many people, particularly youths in the North.
The council said the killing went beyond the loss of an individual, arguing that it represented an attack on religious scholarship, truth and the values that sustain society.
It also expressed concern over what it described as the persistent problem of impunity surrounding high-profile killings in the country, urging the authorities to demonstrate their commitment to protecting citizens and ensuring accountability.
The council called for a transparent and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the assassination, including any possible security lapses and the existence of a wider conspiracy, if established by evidence.
It further urged the authorities to look beyond the immediate perpetrators and investigate any individuals who may have financed, planned or facilitated the crime.
According to the statement, justice would not be served by arresting only those who directly carried out the attack if further investigations established the involvement of other persons.
“The era of empty promises, superficial condolence messages and decorative investigative committees is over,” the council said, insisting that the authorities must demonstrate the political will to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
The NYCN said it would continue to monitor the investigation and called on the governments at both federal and state levels to ensure that the case was not abandoned.
The council also prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased cleric and asked Almighty Allah to comfort his family, associates and followers.
It urged the security agencies to act swiftly and professionally to establish the circumstances surrounding the killing and prevent similar attacks on religious leaders and other citizens.
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