Security has been tightened across Katsina metropolis ahead of the burial of Islamic scholar, Sheikh Yahaya Ibrahim Masussuka, as mourners gather at the palace of the Emir of Katsina to pay their last respects.
A situation report from the state capital indicates that police personnel have been deployed to strategic locations across the city to maintain law and order during the burial proceedings.
At the Emir’s palace, at least four police Hilux patrol vehicles were sighted, alongside military vehicles stationed around the vicinity.
Armed security personnel were also observed at strategic points across the metropolis as preparations for the burial rites of the late cleric intensified.
Meanwhile, residents, Islamic scholars, followers and sympathisers have begun assembling around the palace to pay their last respects to the deceased.
The heightened security presence follows concerns over the killing of Sheikh Masussuka by suspected gunmen in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The late cleric was widely known for his religious teachings and advocacy for peaceful coexistence. His killing attracted widespread condemnation from religious leaders, residents and the state government.
Governor Dikko Umaru Radda had condemned the killing and assured residents that security agencies would thoroughly investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice.
As mourners continue to arrive at the palace, security operatives remain stationed at key locations across the metropolis to ensure peaceful burial proceedings and prevent any breakdown of law and order.