The United States has honoured the septuagenarian Imam Abdullahi Abubakar who saved about 300 Christians from attackers in Nghar Yelwa village of Barkin Ladi local government of the Plateau state. The cleric was recognised and honoured at an event organised by the US embassy in Jos as Nigerians were urged to emulate the cleric’s gesture.

The Imam saved about 300 persons on June 24 when suspected Fulani herdsmen invaded about 15 communities in the Barkin Ladi LGA, killing over 200 persons.

The people, mainly Christians, were said to be fleeing from a neighbouring village in the Barkin Ladi LGA when the Imam hid them in his house and mosque.

“I hid the women in my personal house and after that, I took the men into the mosque and hid them there,” Imam Abubakar had stated.

However, the assailants caught up with the Imam, forcefully demanding that he release those who were Christians in the mosque.

But the cleric said deceived the bandits that all those in the mosque were Muslims and upon hearing this, the attackers left him and continued with their killing elsewhere.