A popular Islamic cleric in Kwara State, Sheikh Abdulganiyu Nuraini, popularly called Alfa Gani Aboto, and two of his aides, have died after the vehicle they were travelling in was washed away in flood waters in the state.
It was gathered that Alfa Gani Aboto, his aides, Alfa Azeez Omoekun and Alfa Nurudeen, were coming from da’awah activity in Minna, Niger State, when the flood swept away his Toyota Yaris car while trying to cross a bridge near Harmony Estate/Kukende at the Akerebiata area of Ilorin.
The bodies of the victims were recovered by the state fire service from a river opposite Olusola Saraki Abattoir along Sobi Army Barracks road, Ilorin inside the car on Saturday, October 1, 2022.
The late sheik was a student of late Sheikh Kamaldeen Al-Adabiy, the first Mufti of Ilorin and founder of Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria. He was also a hafeedh and leading trainer of Quran memorisers in the state.
His corpse was transported to his hometown in Aboto, Asa LGA of the state on Sunday after a janazah in Ilorin.
The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari and former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, have mourned the popular Islamic cleric and his aides who died in the flood.
The state governor in a statement by Rafiu Ajakaye, his Chief Press Secretary, described the sheiks passing as a huge loss for the Muslim community and to Ilorin as a whole.
“We received with shock and sadness the deaths of the popular Islamic cleric Sheikh Aboto and a few others whose identities are not yet known. As faithful, we accept the judgment of our creator. We beseech Him to grant the scholar and others involved al-Jannah Firdaus.
“This, indeed, is one sad news too many. The death of Sheikh Abdulganiy Aboto is a huge loss for the Muslim community and to Ilorin as a whole. He was known for his vast knowledge and great efforts in the propagation of Islamic messages in the simplest form possible for his audience.
“We send our heartfelt condolences to the Emir of Ilorin, Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, the families of the late Sheikh and the others, and the entire Adabiyyah family worldwide. It is our prayer that Allah will grant comfort to all the bereaved families”. The statement read.
The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari in his condolence message, described Shiekh Aboto’s demise as unfortunate and regrettable, stressing that his death has left another vacuum in the dawah activities in the Ilorin Emirate and beyond.
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