My column this week is a tribute to a life well lived and a reminder of a lesson humanity keeps forgetting.
As I began to write this piece, the words of great thinkers from different generations, cultures, and religions kept coming to mind. Despite their differences, they all spoke with one voice on a single truth: that our shared humanity must come before every other identity. It is therefore fitting to begin this reflection by recalling some of those timeless voices.
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib, the fourth Caliph of Islam, captured this truth in one of the most profound moral statements in history when he said:
“People are of two types: they are either your brothers in faith or your equals in humanity.”
This statement was not made by an ordinary man, but by the highest leader of the Muslim community of his time. It shows that even at the peak of religious authority, Imam Ali understood that faith loses its meaning when it forgets compassion. His words remind us that difference in belief does not cancel equality in humanity.
Centuries later, the same idea resurfaced in Europe through the writings of the French philosopher Voltaire. In an age troubled by religious intolerance, Voltaire insisted that reason and humanity must prevail over division. He wrote:
“We are all brothers; the only difference is the name we give ourselves. Reason and humanity must unite us.”
Though separated from Imam Ali by time, geography, and religion, Voltaire arrived at the same conclusion: that humanity is the strongest bond we share.
In more recent history, Mahatma Gandhi of India reinforced this moral position with simplicity and clarity. He said:
“I want to see humanity first, religion second. A person who serves another without distinction of faith is fulfilling the highest duty of life.”
Gandhi’s words explain what the others implied: religion is meant to elevate human values, not replace them. When faith becomes a reason to harm others, it has lost its soul.
The repeated emphasis by leaders on rejecting extremism is not accidental. It is a response to history. From ancient times to the modern era, extremism, especially when mixed with religion, has destroyed countless lives. Sadly, Nigeria is not exempt from this tragedy.
According to data from the Observatory for Religious Freedom, between 2019 and 2023 alone, about 56,000 people lost their lives in Nigeria due to violence linked to religious extremism. These deaths cut across religious lines, affecting both Christians and Muslims. This reality explains why celebrating individuals who stand against hatred is not just symbolic, but necessary. They offer society a better moral direction.
One such individual was Imam Abdullahi Abubakar.
Born in 1936 in Bauchi State, Imam Abdullahi became the Chief Imam of Nghar village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, a region that has experienced repeated cycles of ethnic and religious violence. Living in such an environment meant that the test of his values was not theoretical, but real.
In 2018, attacks occurred in Yelwan Gindi Akwati, Swei, and Nghar villages, leaving scores of people dead and many displaced. Fear took over communities, and people fled simply to survive.
During the height of this violence, hundreds of Christians were running for their lives. At that moment, Imam Abdullahi made a choice that defined his legacy. He opened the doors of his mosque and his home and sheltered at least 262 Christians, with some reports putting the number at over 300. He refused to surrender them to attackers, even though doing so placed his own life in grave danger. With the support of local youths, he ensured their safety until calm returned.
This act stands out sharply in a society where some religious voices preach hatred and justify violence. Imam Abdullahi’s courage showed that faith can be a shield for life, not a weapon against it. His action was rightly celebrated across Nigeria and beyond. He was awarded the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) by the Federal Government and received international recognition, including the United States International Religious Freedom Award in 2019.
On Thursday, 15 January 2026, Imam Abdullahi passed away at the age of 92. His death marked the end of a life that quietly but powerfully defended humanity.
Through his actions, he taught us that even in moments of fear, some people choose others over themselves. Such selflessness is rare in our society, yet it is exactly what sustains peace. He also demonstrated a simple moral rule: no one should suffer injustice or death because they are “not one of us.”
In this sense, Imam Abdullahi lived the warning issued by Pastor Martin Niemöller during the Nazi era, when he said that silence in the face of persecution eventually destroys everyone. By protecting others, the Imam showed that when injustice is allowed against one human being, humanity itself is threatened.
Imam Abdullahi lived a good life, not because he preached loudly, but because he acted rightly. He left behind a lesson that Nigeria and the world urgently need to remember.
We are human before anything else.
Abuja Network News
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