US wants Nigerians to emulate cleric

Nigerians have been urged to emulate an Islamic cleric who hid over 300 Christians at the wake of the crisis sometimes in June, just as Governor Simon Lalong honoured the man.
The position of the US was made by the United States (US) Embassy in Nigeria through its officer in Charge of de Affaires, Mr.
David Young during a three-day Peace & Security Conference organized by the Plateau state peace building agency holding at Crest Hotel in Jos.
He said Nigerians, irrespective of ethnicity; region or religion should emulate a septuagenarian, Imam Abdullahi Abubakar who saved about 300 Christians from attackers in Nghar Yelwa village of Barkin Ladi local government of Plateau state.
“Let what the Imam did be a challenge for us, let us risk our lives for the peace,” he said.
Mr. Young explained that he has seen people who worked for peace, but didn’t see somebody who have put his life on the line to protect others in their communities like what Imam did by protecting the 300 Christians.
In a related development, the Plateau state Governor, Simon Lalong, has honoured the Islamic cleric.
Lalong hosted the cleric at the Government House yesterday, the state Commissioner of Information and Communications, Yakubu Dati, said on the ministry’s WattsApp platform.
“He hid them in the mosque and stood by the door to wade off the attackers at great risk to his life at Nghar Yelwa village (Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau state), during the tragic Plateau attack of June 23 & 24, 2018,” the commissioner said.
He stressed that Governor Lalong is taking cleric for a presidential handshake with President Mohammadu Buhari, adding that he is recommended for national honours by the President.