The Ansaru militant group, which is linked to Al-Qaeda, has claimed responsibility for the killing of Sheikh Yahaya Masussuka, accusing him of being an infidel.
The group confirmed its responsibility for the killing in an audio message released on Tuesday. In the recording, Ansaru said it carried out the attack at about 8:30 p.m in Dutsin Ma Katsina state
The speaker in the message stated that the attack occurred on Tuesday, although this may have been an error, as the incident reportedly took place on Monday.
Ansaru accused Sheikh Yahaya Masussuka of opposing Islam but did not specify any particular offence he had allegedly committed.
However, the message suggested that his advocacy for interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence among followers of different religions may have been among the factors that motivated the attack.
Ansaru broke away from Boko Haram in 2012 following disagreements with the group’s leadership under Abubakar Shekau.
Since then, the group has operated mainly in north-western Nigeria, including Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger states.
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