A renowned Islamic cleric and leader of the Salafis movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Muhammad Auwal Adam Albani, was shot dead by gunmen last night in Zaria, Kaduna State, in the country’s north-west.

His wife and one of his children, Abdullahi, were also killed while two of his associates driving in the Hynda bus with him were wounded. Thousands of sympathisers attended Sheikh Albani’s burial this morning in Zaria

Sources told News Express that the cleric was returning to his house in the Gaskiya area of Zaria after a preaching session at Markazul Salafiyya in Tudun Wada, when the assailants opened fire on him, killing him with his wife and son around 10pm.

The scene of the incident is a stone throw from the school and the preacher’s residence.

Albani, a known critic of Boko Haram violent Islamic sect, had variously said he advised the late Boko Haram founder Muhammad Yusuf against the critical doctrine on Western education – Boko Haram roughly translating “Western education is sin.” He had maintained that the Muslim world required technological development in order to face current challenges.

Sheikh Albani, who was pronounced dead from gunshot wounds at St Luke Hospital, Wusasa, in Zaria, left behind two wives and over 20 children. He at a time had running battles with the authorities.

•Photo shows the late Sheikh Albani.