Attack of shepherds: Buhari reacts while an Imam who saved 262 Christians from the Plateau receives an American prize

President Buhari sent a message to Abubakar Abdullahi, the imam who risked his life to save Christians in Jos, in the Plateau State.

Abdullahi hid 262 Christians in his mosque and at home from alleged Fulani shepherds in the Barkin Ladi local government area during the June 2018 crisis in that state.

The Muslim cleric was honored on Thursday with the US International Religious Freedom Award.

Buhari, in a statement to DAILY POST signed by his senior special advisor for media and advertising, Garba Shehu, declared "delighted with the International Prize for Religious Freedom awarded to Imam Abubakar Abdullahi of Nigeria by the State Department of the United States ".

He added: "Buhari warmly congratulates Imam Abubakar for the well-deserved honor of a no less credible and formidable government agency".

He said, "The recognition given to the 83-year-old Muslim cleric dominates and suits perfectly the patriot who risked his life and that of his family on June 23, 2018 to save the lives of hundreds of Christians fleeing the attacks of suspected bandits in the villages of Yelwan Gidin Akwati, Swei and Nghar in the Barkin Ladi local government area, in the Plateau State. "

"As Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said on May 30, 2019, at State House Abuja, when he received the imam, the village chief, Damafulul Mangai; community leaders and a delegation from the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union, the cleric "did so much to promote peace through his singular act that most politicians could do and deserved all the praise and the great honor ".

Buhari added that he was "delighted that a Nigerian national has written his golden name on the international stage and his actions will resonate everywhere and whenever there will be discussions on religious tolerance." and the cordiality between Christians and Muslims in the country and in the world ". . "

The president recommended the exceptional virtues of Imam Abdullahi to all religious, in particular, and to Nigerians in general.

He also strongly affirms the commitment of this administration to the freedom of religion and worship for all Nigerians, guaranteed by the constitution; stressing that in no case will a religion or faith be imposed on the nation.