By: Bashir Hassan Abubakar
Bauchi came to a standstill on Friday as dignitaries and thousands of mourners converged on the state capital for the funeral of renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi.
Vice President Kashim Shettima led the Federal Government delegation to the funeral prayer, following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Also, in attendance were Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, Niger State Governor Umaru Bago, ministers, national and state lawmakers, traditional rulers, and leading Islamic clerics.
The funeral prayer, led by Maiduguri-based scholar Sheikh Sharif Ibrahim Saleh, held at the Bauchi Eid Ground at exactly 4:36 p.m., drawing an immense crowd of sympathisers from within and outside Nigeria, all gathered to honour the revered Tijjaniyya leader.
Mourners had begun trooping into Bauchi since the announcement of death on Thursday morning, a testament to the late Sheikh’s vast influence, towering scholarship, and spiritual impact across the country and beyond.
Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, a centenarian, passed away in the early hours of Thursday at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital.
His death has sparked an outpouring of condolences from political leaders, religious institutions, and followers of the Tijjaniyya order worldwide.
He is survived by sixty children, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Many of his followers described his passing as a monumental loss to Nigeria’s religious landscape and the global Muslim community.
The eminent scholar was laid to rest at his residence in Makera, where his body was committed to mother earth amid tears, prayers, and heartfelt tributes.
