Muslim cleric Abubakar Abdullahi who risked his life to save some Christians in Jos, Plateau State has been honoured with US International Religious Freedom Award.
The 83-year-old Imam was announced as a recipient of the award after he hid over 200 Christians from suspected bandits in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
He hid the Christian inside his mosque and home to prevent them from an attack by the bandits during June 2018 clashes.
Abdullahi according to the US Department of State website is being honoured after he, “selflessly risked his own life to save members of another religious community, who would have likely been killed without his intervention.”
Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback during the International Religious Freedom Awards (IRFA) held on Thursday in US lauded Abdullahi’s brave acts.
The IRFA is organised by US State Department to honor Religious freedom advocates including Abdullahi and five others.
Abdullahi was honoured alongside others from Cyprus, Sudan, Brazil, and Iraq. Although he could not make it to the main ceremony in the US his profile was read and his action applauded.
“Another awardee who could not make it tonight, but I just have to read this about him,” Brownback said during the event.
Watch Brownback reading Abdulai’s profile below…
Imam Abubakar Abdullahi of #Nigeria selflessly risked his own life to save members of another religious community, who would have likely been killed without his intervention. #IRFAwards @USEmbassyAbuja pic.twitter.com/pObSlkvgFU
— Department of State (@StateDept) July 17, 2019
The U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo also at the ceremony lauded the heroic efforts of the freedom advocates.
“I’m especially honored tonight to share the stage with the men and women who have demonstrated how much each one of us is capable of in advancing this noble shared cause. If the future of religious freedom rests on solid ground, it’s because of people who are sharing the stage with me tonight.
“To say that each of them is brave is a gross understatement. To say their work is tough does not go nearly far enough,” he said.
Privileged to present five extraordinary #religiousfreedom advocates with the @StateDept’s first-ever #IRFAwards today. Their heroic efforts to build bridges & protect vulnerable religious minorities, often at their own personal risk, are an inspiration to us all. pic.twitter.com/SxJI9XQZYT
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) July 18, 2019
Imam Abdullahi is the chief Imam of Nghar village mosque. He was born in Bauchi State in 1936 and has lived most years of his life in Nghar, leading the Muslim community through the mosque.
