Sheikh Yahaya Ibrahim Masussuka

Sheikh Yahaya Ibrahim Masussuka was a Nigerian Islamic preacher who built a large following in Katsina State through radio, television and school projects before he was shot dead outside his home in October 2026. He was originally from Bauchi State but was based in Dutsin-Ma, where he became a well known, and often controversial, voice in northern Nigerian religious life.

He was best known for a style of teaching that set him apart from many of his peers: he taught a Quran centred approach to Islam and rejected certain Hadith traditions as a source of religious authority, a position that put him in open disagreement with other scholars in the region. In April 2024 he founded Qur'an TV/Radio and the Masussuka International School in Dutsin-Ma, institutions intended to combine Quranic instruction with conventional education. He also spoke publicly on social issues, including a call for family planning in northern Nigeria, where he argued that unchecked population growth without proper parenting was contributing to banditry and crime in the region.

His preaching repeatedly drew the attention of state authorities. The Katsina State Government summoned him for questioning on more than one occasion over claims that his sermons contravened the general principles of Islamic law, and a civil society group, the Impactive Centre for Accountability, Democracy and Rights, publicly urged the government to show restraint, describing him as a peace loving leader who promoted tolerance and coexistence. These disputes, and his reputation as an advocate of interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence, placed him at the centre of wider debates in the region about religious authority and free expression.

On the evening of Monday, 26 October 2026, two gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fire on Masussuka and a companion, Adamu Abubakar, outside the entrance to his residence in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area. Both men were rushed to hospital, where they were pronounced dead. The Katsina State Police Command confirmed the killings and said investigations had begun, while the militant group Ansaru, which is linked to al Qaeda, later claimed responsibility in an audio message accusing him of opposing Islam, a claim that had not been independently verified. The attack came days before he was due to host a peace and unity gathering planned for 31 October 2026.

News of his death brought an outpouring of grief and official condemnation. Katsina State Governor Dikko Umaru Radda described the killing as shocking and heartbreaking and ordered a thorough investigation, while Amnesty International also condemned the attack and called for accountability. Followers in Dutsin-Ma and beyond were left shaken and searching for answers, with many remembering him as a figure who, whatever the controversy over his teachings, had consistently preached tolerance and peaceful coexistence.