By Sule Aliyu Bauchi
The Bauchi State Government has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of iconic Islamic scholar and global Tijaniyya spiritual leader, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, who died in the early hours of Thursday, November 27, 2025, after a prolonged illness. He was aged 102.
Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad, in a statement issued by his Senior Media Aide, Comrade Mukhtar Gidado, conveyed heartfelt condolences to the revered Sheikh’s family, students, followers, and the Muslim Ummah across Nigeria and beyond.
The Governor described the late Sheikh as “a towering figure in Islamic scholarship, a man of deep faith, humility, and wisdom whose life was devoted to the propagation of the Qur’an and the spiritual upliftment of humanity.”
He highlighted the Sheikh’s immense contributions to Islamic education, noting that thousands of students passed through his schools and memorized the Qur’an under his tutelage, spreading Islamic knowledge throughout Africa.
Governor Muhammad further extolled him as a symbol of unity and peace: “He was not only a custodian of religious knowledge but also a unifying voice for peace, tolerance, and understanding among all people.”
He assured that the Bauchi State Government would continue to honour the Sheikh’s memory by supporting the institutions and values he upheld, especially in Islamic education, moral discipline, and community development.
Meanwhile, a family source confirmed to Krestnews Online that the Sheikh died at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, on Wednesday night. His remains have been moved to his residence along Gombe Road, where funeral prayers will hold on Friday to allow his many followers and children across the world to attend.
Born on June 28, 1927, in Nafada, now part of Gombe State, Sheikh Dahiru memorized the Qur’an before the age of 20 and studied under several great Islamic scholars, including Sheikh Ibrahim Inyass, whom he regarded as his foremost teacher.
He began his Tafsir lectures in 1950, which later gained national reach through broadcast on Bauchi Radio Corporation in 1976 and Radio Nigeria Kaduna from 1980 during Ramadan.
Beyond preaching, he was a philanthropist who built more than 200 housing units for his students and followers, founded numerous Islamic schools, and led agricultural empowerment initiatives. He authored several books on Islamic jurisprudence and literature and served as Deputy Chairman of the Fatwa Committee of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).
His impact extended across continents, with many converts to Islam attributing their inspiration to his preaching. He was believed to have 83 children and over 199 grandchildren.
Sheikh Dahiru performed Hajj 55 times and Umrah 205 times, earning global respect for his devotion, scholarship, and unwavering courage in speaking against tyranny, corruption, immorality, cultism, and drug abuse.
He is celebrated as one of Nigeria’s most influential Islamic intellectuals, whose legacy will continue to illuminate generations.
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