The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) on Sunday expressed deep sorrow over the passing of renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, who died at the age of 98.
His death has plunged Nigeria and the global Muslim community into mourning, with tributes pouring in for a man widely regarded as one of the most influential religious figures of his generation.
In a statement by NEF spokesperson, Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere, the forum described Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi as a guiding light, a father to the Ummah, a refuge for the troubled and a voice of truth, noting that his compassion and wisdom touched countless lives.
His death, according to the forum, is not just the loss of a revered scholar but the fading of a rare, radiant star whose brilliance shaped generations.
The Forum said, “The intellectual and spiritual world of Islam stands quieter, dimmer and deeply wounded. The Northern Elders Forum extends its sincerest condolences to his bereaved family, to His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to the government and people of Bauchi state, to the entire Muslim Ummah, and to every Nigerian whose life has been touched by his teachings.”
The group further extended its heartfelt condolences to his immediate family, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the government and people of Bauchi state, the entire Muslim Ummah, and every Nigerian influenced by his teachings.
“We mourn not only a leader but a father, a bridge-builder and a symbol of hope. In this moment of profound national grief, the convener and chairman, Board of Trustees of the Northern Elders Forum, Prof Ango Abdullahi, together with the chairman, Management Board, Air Marshal Al-Amin Daggash also extend their deepest and most heartfelt condolences,” it said.
They described Sheikh Dahiru’s death as a loss of immeasurable magnitude whose impact reaches far beyond his immediate followers.
NEF leadership asked Almighty Allah to grant the family strength, envelop the Ummah in mercy and patience and give the nation resilience to bear the loss of a father, a teacher whose absence would be felt for generations.
They praised Sheikh Dahiru’s lifelong commitment to strengthening the bonds of humanity, fostering interfaith harmony, promoting peaceful coexistence and championing compassion, saying he calmed tensions, used his influence to unite communities, such that his legacy remains a powerful testament to sincerity and faith.
They prayed for Allah’s mercy upon him, asking that he be granted the highest place in Jannatul Firdausi among the righteous and truthful.
