Sokoto Cleric Murtala Asada Survives Assassination Attempt

Babatunji Wusu –

• Assassination Attempt: Popular Sokoto-based cleric Murtala Asada survived an assassination attempt at his residence on Tuesday night.
• Attack Details: Armed, masked men attempted to infiltrate his home, but Asada successfully repelled them with gunfire after spotting them via CCTV.
• Ongoing Conflict: The attack follows a digital feud between Asada and terrorist leader Bello Turji, with Turji previously threatening Asada’s life.
• Investigation Underway: Sokoto police are investigating the incident, though they have not confirmed any details or claimed responsibility.

Murtala Asada, a prominent Islamic cleric based in Sokoto, survived an assassination attempt at his residence in the Sokoto metropolis on Tuesday night. According to his colleagues, masked armed men attacked his home, but Asada, who had been monitoring the situation through his CCTV cameras, fired gunshots, causing the attackers to flee.

Musa Lukuwa, a colleague of Asada, explained during a Friday congregation that one of the attackers climbed the fence to open the gate for his accomplices, who had arrived in vehicles. Asada’s gunfire, however, forced them to abandon their mission. Reports also indicated that one of the attackers attempted to kill the gateman but was deterred by Asada’s gunfire.

The attack is believed to be linked to a long-running digital dispute between Asada and terrorist leader Bello Turji. The cleric had previously called for Turji’s death in a viral video, and Turji had threatened Asada, accusing him of exacerbating the conflict in the region rather than promoting peace. While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the feud between the two figures remains a key point of contention.

Sokoto police have confirmed they are investigating the incident, including reviewing the CCTV footage, but police spokesperson Ahmed Rufa’i stated that he had not yet been briefed about the attack.