Imam who helped Christians, teacher who dared bandits nominated for national honours

By Our Correspondent 

Abdullahi Abubakar, an Islamic cleric in Plateau state, is one of the 437 persons nominated by the federal government to receive national honours.

Abubakar has been nominated to receive the award of member of the order of the Niger (MON).

The awards will be presented by President Muhammadu Buhari on October 11 at the state house in Abuja.

Abubakar was said to have hidden 262 Christians in his mosque when suspected bandits attacked 10 communities in the Barkin Ladi LGA of the state in June 2018.

Speaking on what informed his decision, the cleric had described it as a “gamble with his life”.

“I have never experienced such a terrible situation as this in my life. The recent ugly incident is unprecedented,” he had said.

His action has fetched him widespread recognition across the globe, and in 2019, the cleric was announced as one of the recipients of the US international religious freedom award.

Also on the list of nominees is Muktar Gulma, a teacher who was said to have insisted on sticking with his students during an attack on the Federal Government College (FGC) in Birnin Yauri, Kebbi state.

He was said to have been eventually released alongside some of the students.

Gulma is on the list of nominees for the award of member of the order of the Niger (MON).