A lecturer in the Department of Library and Information Science, Gombe State University, Abubakar Faisal-Abdulkadir has narrated how his brother, the late Sheikh Ibrahim Kuri-Albani, was killed by gunmen on August 9, 2023, in the Akko Local Government Area of the state.

He described his late 44 years old brother as a good man and a respected sheikh as well as an Islamic cleric, who specialised in tafsir and hadith as well, adding that “all his life, Sheikh Albani Kuri, had always taught and preached wherever he found himself. Once he was given the opportunity, he taught the Quran. In a nutshell, that was how he spent his life. He was a dutiful person, caring and loving, he was philanthropic in his disposition, especially with indigent people around him. Not many show love to people, especially when they are privileged, but he was exceptionally kind, a community person and a family man with a sense of utmost responsibility.

According to him, many people will will miss his teachings. “We will miss the Saturday tafsir that most of us attended. The late Sheikh Albani Kuri used to deliver it at the Shabisunah Mosque I used to attend very frequently. The death of the sheikh is a painful one; we have never experienced this kind of thing in the family. It’s sad that someone will be healthy, not sick but will be cut off (killed) just like that. His unique delivery of tafsir was extraordinary, and this endeared him to people, to many followers both young and old. So many of his followers I assure you will miss him but like good Muslims, we rely on the will and plan of Allah.

“We will miss him a lot because, in the family, he had been a figure to be reckoned with. He took responsibility for his family and some others, including some of his siblings who shared the same parents with him. The people he had been kind to over time will miss this support. It is a big void that only Allah can fill, especially with the economic situation in the country, where most people are managing to survive. He was magnanimous and philanthropic, so some of these gestures will be highly missed. As it is now, I don’t know who will take up those responsibilities now that Sheikh Albani Kuri is no more,” he said.

He added that the late Sheikh has over six children, adding that “Now that Sheikh Albani Kuri is no more, the burden will be transferred to us. However, we wish that the government would take some responsibility for his family. We know he (the governor) can’t do it all but he should give a helping hand to immediate brothers (of the deceased) so that they can do what is expected of them.

“You know education is a golden legacy so it will be nice for the seven children to get the best. I’m sure that will be the desire of the sheikh. It will be appreciated if the government can grant them a scholarship. This will to a good extent console the children and lessen the burden on the family. This is the reason for my special appeal to Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, to step in and do something for the family, children even if it’s a scholarship, whatever support that he may want to give to the children and the family will be most grateful. These children must not be denied the basic education, because of the father’s demise. The government can step in at least in honour of Sheikh Albani Kuri,” he added. (The PUNCH)

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