Imam Abubakar’s Brave Act Still Echoes – Tinubu

By: Abudu Olalekan

He wasn’t just an imam. He was a shield.

Late Imam Abdullahi Abubakar—92, wise, quiet—passed away in Nghar, Barkin Ladi, Plateau State. And when news broke, hearts cracked. Not just in his village. All over.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said it best: “A courageous servant of God.” And honestly? He wasn’t wrong.

Back in 2018, when chaos exploded—fires, fear, people running—Imam Abubakar did something wild. He opened the doors of his mosque. Not to Muslims only. To everyone. Over 200 Christians. Hiding them. Feeding them. Protecting them. While bullets flew outside. While hatred burned.

Imagine that.

One man. One mosque. A hundred lives saved.

Tinubu called him extraordinary. Said he stood for faith, courage, and the sacredness of life. When others saw divides—Muslim vs. Christian, tribe vs. tribe—Imam Abubakar saw people. Just people.

“He chose humanity over division,” Tinubu said. “Love over hatred.”

And let’s be real—that wasn’t easy. Risking his own life? For strangers? That’s not bravery. That’s next-level bravery.

His name didn’t stay local. It spread. News outlets picked it up. Awards followed. Local and international. But he never bragged. Never asked for fame. He just kept praying. Kept leading. Kept being him.

Now, with him gone, the world feels a little quieter. A little heavier.

Tinubu urged leaders—religious, community—to follow his example. To preach tolerance. To teach respect. To build bridges, not walls.

“His act didn’t go unnoticed,” the President said. And it shouldn’t.

Imam Abubakar’s story? It’s not just about a mosque or a crisis. It’s about choice. About what we do when fear shows up. When anger screams. When the world says “pick a side.”

He picked humanity.

And that? That’s the kind of legacy that lasts.

May his soul rest in peace. May Allah reward his courage. And may we all—just a little—try to live like him.