Terrorist group Ansaru has claimed responsibility for the killing of Katsina-based Islamic cleric Sheikh Yahya Ibrahim Masussuka, who was known for promoting interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
The group, affiliated with Al-Qaeda, reportedly accused the cleric of being an infidel and acting against Islam, but did not identify any specific offence he had committed.
Journalist and security researcher Malik Samuel disclosed the claim on Tuesday, saying Ansaru confirmed its involvement in an audio recording.
According to Samuel, the speaker said the attack took place at about 8.30pm, although he mentioned Tuesday as the day of the incident. The killing reportedly occurred on Monday.
Masussuka was recognised as a peacemaker by the Network for Good Governance and Transparency in May 2025 for his efforts to promote interfaith dialogue in Nigeria.
Security expert Bulama Bukarti suggested that the killing might be connected to a peace conference the cleric was preparing to organise.
“It is not surprising that Ansaru has targeted Masussuka, given that Malam Masussuka was preparing to organise a major peace conference,” Bukarti said in a post on X.
He added that the group’s opposition to peaceful coexistence among followers of different religions might have made the cleric a target.
Samuel said Ansaru’s claim of responsibility could help security agencies focus their investigations on the group and identify those directly involved in the killing.
He also noted that the group had threatened people it considered enemies of Islam, raising concerns about the safety of others targeted by its threats.
Ansaru split from Boko Haram in 2012 and has been linked to attacks in parts of northern Nigeria.
The development comes after a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced two Ansaru commanders, Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, and Mahmud al-Nigeri, also known as Malam Mamuda, to life imprisonment for terrorism-related offences.
The Department of State Services, which prosecuted the men, reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the sentences and indicated plans to challenge the ruling on appeal.
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