Self Defence: Sokoto Preacher, Sheikh Yabo, Brandishes Gun During Preaching Session

A video circulating on social media has sparked mixed reactions after it showed a prominent Sokoto-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Muhammad Bello Aliyu Yabo, brandishing a gun during a preaching session.

In the clip, which is about two minutes-long, Sheikh Yabo—widely known for his hardline sermons and criticism of government—pulls out a firearm and warned against any potential attack on his life, saying there would be consequences.

“I am not afraid of dying tonight,” the cleric declared in Hausa language. “But anyone who tries to come for my life had better come prepared, because I am ready for any attack, you can see the sign in my hand.”

Still holding the gun, he added, “As long as I hold this, I don’t think anyone with a knife can touch me—not even if they are drunk. But if they try, I’m ready.”

LEADERSHIP reports that bandits have been terrorising parts of Sheikh Yabo’s Sokoto State and the North-West at large for some years now.

However, the video has drawn mixed reactions online. While some netizens praised the cleric’s firm stance on self-defence amid Nigeria’s rising insecurity, others condemned the gesture, arguing that bringing a weapon to a public or religious gathering sets a dangerous precedent.