Ansaru claims responsibility for preacher’s killing in Nigeria
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Leadership
The Al-Qaeda-linked Ansaru group has claimed responsibility for the killing of Muslim preacher Yahaya Masussuka in an audio message broadcast in Nigeria. It accused him of being an “infidel” and suggested that his call for interfaith dialogue may have motivated the attack, according to Leadership.
The Ansaru group, which is linked to Al-Qaeda, has claimed responsibility for the killing of Nigerian Muslim preacher Yahaya Masussuka, whom it accused of being an infidel. The claim was broadcast on Tuesday in an audio message, according to the Nigerian daily Leadership.
Ansaru said the attack was carried out at around 8.30pm. The group did not cite any specific offence, but referred to Yahaya Masussuka’s opposition to Islam and may have targeted his positions in favour of interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence, reports Leadership.
Ansaru split from Boko Haram in 2012 after disagreements with the leadership of Abubakar Shekau. The group operates mainly in the Nigerian states of Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger. Yahaya Masussuka was preparing a major peace conference, which may have contributed to his being designated as a target, according to Leadership.
Prayers are to be held at the palace of the emir of Katsina before the funeral scheduled for Friday. The killing had been reported on 26 October, along with that of a visitor, before the governor of Katsina called for an investigation.
