Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A muezzin whose voice had called the faithful to prayer for years was silenced in the early hours of thursday morning after unknown gunmen killed him on his way to the mosque to make the Fajr (dawn) call to prayer in a brutal attack that has deepened fears of growing insecurity in Kaduna State. The victim, identified as Haruna Gada, also known as Wamban Nasaru, was attacked while walking to the Hayin Gada Nasaru Mosque in the Pambegua area of Kubau Local Government Area, according to local sources who spoke to our correspondent.
Gada, who served as the muezzin of the mosque, was reportedly making his way to the mosque to perform the dawn call to prayer when he was intercepted and killed by his assailants. The motive for the killing remains unclear as of the time of this report, but the attack has sent shockwaves through the community, coming just days after the Chief Imam of Talluje village in Sokoto State was killed in a similar attack.
Residents of Hayin Gada Nasaru and the wider Pambegua community are in a state of grief and shock, with many describing Gada as a devoted servant of God who dedicated his life to the mosque. "He was a man of peace, a man who called us to prayer five times a day," a resident told our correspondent. "Who would want to kill such a person? This is beyond comprehension."
The killing of a muezzin—a position of profound respect in Islamic communities—has sparked outrage and renewed calls for the government to address the escalating insecurity that has turned even the most sacred routines into life-threatening acts. The attack occurred despite the presence of security forces in the area and ongoing military operations aimed at dislodging bandits from their hideouts in Kaduna State.
The murder of Haruna Gada is the latest in a series of attacks targeting religious leaders in northern Nigeria. In recent weeks, bandits have killed the Chief Imam of Kuda-Kuda village in Sokoto State and the Chief Imam of Talluje village, also in Sokoto. In January 2026, suspected bandits killed an Islamic cleric in Layin Danauta, Kuyello Ward, in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The pattern has raised alarm among residents, who fear that clerics are being specifically targeted, even though security analysts maintain that bandits are not driven by religious ideology and often attack at prayer times when clerics are most vulnerable.
Kubau Local Government Area has witnessed repeated attacks in recent years, with communities in the region bearing the brunt of bandit activities. The killing of Haruna Gada is a stark reminder that no one is safe, not even those who dedicate their lives to serving God and their communities. The Kaduna State Government has yet to issue an official statement on the incident, and the police have not confirmed any arrests.
For the community of Hayin Gada Nasaru, the loss of their muezzin is a devastating blow. As they prepare to bury their beloved servant of God, the question on everyone's lips is: who will be next, and when will the government finally take decisive action to end this cycle of bloodshed?
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