Nigeria has lost one of its most influential religious voices following the death of Dahiru Usman Bauchi, leader of the Tijjaniyyah Sufi order and a scholar revered across West Africa. He died on Thursday at a private hospital in Bauchi after a brief illness, according to family members.
His passing was confirmed first by relatives and then by Bashir Ahmad, former aide to Muhammadu Buhari, who shared the news on X and offered prayers for the late cleric. “We receive the news of the passing of our revered leader with heavy hearts and complete submission to the will of Allah,” he wrote.
Read also: Christian genocide in Nigeria and resource capture by Islamist expansionists
Sayyadi Ali Dahiru Usman Bauchi, one of the cleric’s sons, also confirmed the death. Speaking from Madinah, he described his father’s long life as a blessing, adding that burial arrangements would be announced later. “Sheikh has returned to his creator. We thank Almighty Allah. Allah has spared his life till this time. Sheikh’s life was well spent,” he said.
Read also:Govt summons Katsina cleric over alleged violations of Islamic law
Born around 1927 in Gombe, Dahiru Bauchi rose to become one of the most respected scholars in the country. For more than 70 years, he taught Qur’anic exegesis and guided millions of followers. He earned recognition as the Khalifah of the Tijjaniyyah Ibrahimiyyah in Nigeria and served as deputy chairman of the Fatwa committee under the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.
His influence reached far beyond sermons. The cleric was known for humanitarian work across northern Nigeria, funding education and supporting vulnerable communities. His home became a destination for students seeking religious grounding and spiritual guidance.
Read also: ECOWAS, Islamic scholars join forces to tackle terrorism in West Africa
In a 2019 interview, the scholar reflected on his long journey. He recalled marrying his first wife in 1948 and spoke with pride about his many children and grandchildren, all of whom he said had strong Qur’anic education. At the time, then aged 92, he described himself as a traveller preparing for the final journey. “When it is time to pray, you pray. When it is time to eat, you eat. Then you return to your load which you will take on your journey to the great beyond,” he said.
Dahiru Bauchi was also known for his outspoken views on national issues. During the farmer herder crisis in 2018, he argued that the violence had no religious roots and warned against blaming the Fulani broadly for killings. According to the Punch He insisted that criminal groups were exploiting tensions to fuel division. “Fulani are not new in Nigeria. If they were killers, they would have started hundreds of years ago,” he told journalists in Bauchi.
He met Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s former president, at the State House in 2021, where the two discussed unity and religious harmony.
Funeral prayers for the scholar are expected to be announced soon. He is survived by a large family, thousands of students, and followers who continue to draw from his teachings.
