The Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, has confirmed that no post-mortem examination was conducted on the remains of Islamic cleric, Sheikh Yahaya Masussuka, who was shot dead alongside a companion by gunmen in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of the state.
The hospital disclosed on Thursday that the cleric’s remains had only been embalmed and were still in its mortuary ahead of a funeral scheduled for Friday, October 30.
A mortician at the facility, Mr Yahuza, said the body was brought in by relatives after the cleric had died.
“No post-mortem was performed on him. Only embalming was done,” he said.
Yahuza confirmed that he observed wounds on the body but said only medical personnel could determine their cause.
“There are wounds on his body. But the doctors are the ones to confirm what actually happened to him,” he added.
He said the family had informed hospital officials of plans to collect the remains on Friday morning but could not explain why the burial had been delayed.
A longtime associate of the deceased and eyewitness to the attack, Suleiman Abubakar, said the family and community elders agreed to postpone the burial while consultations continued and authorities investigated the killing.
“There is a reason, because we have elders ahead of us. The government is also aware of what happened, so we had to wait and hear what would be done,” he said.
Abubakar disclosed that security personnel visited the cleric’s residence and recovered spent ammunition casings near the entrance.
He said the family decided against an immediate burial because investigations were ongoing.
“Since the authorities sent personnel who recovered ammunition casings at the entrance to the house, and investigations are ongoing, we could not rush things,” he said.
According to him, further consultations led to an agreement to hold the funeral prayer at about 2:30 p.m. on Friday at Kofar Soro, near the Emir of Katsina’s palace, after the Juma’at prayer.
A video announcement by the cleric’s associates on Thursday also confirmed that the funeral would take place in Katsina rather than Dutsin-Ma, where the attack occurred.
Abubakar dismissed suggestions that the decision to bury the cleric in Katsina was driven by fears of further violence, explaining that the deceased had homes in both towns, with his main residence and family in Katsina.
He also ruled out any plan by the cleric’s associates to retaliate against those responsible for the killing.
“We have left this matter to God. We are not the kind of people who would seek revenge because something like this has happened,” he said.
The attack also claimed the life of Adamu Abubakar, a friend of the cleric and imam of a Friday mosque who lived in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Suleiman said the deceased was originally from Bauchi State and had known Sheikh Masussuka since childhood. He was buried on Wednesday after discussions between his relatives and the cleric’s associates.
On previous threats against the cleric, Suleiman said associates had reported threatening statements to the authorities whenever they became aware of them.
“Whenever we hear any statement that poses a threat, we go and inform the authorities. We don’t remain silent,” he said.
However, he declined to identify any individual or group as responsible for the killing, saying the associates had no suspects.
“We don’t suspect anyone. Even if someone says they will do something, that does not mean they actually did it,” he added.
The Katsina State Police Command had earlier said two gunmen riding on a motorcycle attacked the cleric and his companion outside the residence on Monday evening.
The Commissioner of Police, Ali Fage, subsequently ordered the deployment of personnel to identify and arrest the attackers.
