Maiduguri on Sunday witnessed an emotional homecoming as renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Sheriff Ibrahim Saleh El-Hussain, returned to Borno State after 15 years away from the state capital.
The revered cleric who left the state at the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency when Islamic clerics were the targets of the terrorists was received at the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Maiduguri, by a high-powered Borno State Government delegation led by the deputy governor, Hon. Umar Usman Kadafur, who represented Governor Babagana Umara Zulum.
The delegation included the member representing Jere Federal Constituency, Hon. Ahmed Satomi; Hon. Abba Kyari; Hon. Abba Kolo; members of the State Executive Council; Special Advisers; Senior Special Assistants; religious and community leaders, as well as prominent Islamic scholars.
The arrival drew a massive crowd of followers, well-wishers and admirers who thronged the airport to welcome the respected scholar, turning his return into a deeply emotional and memorable homecoming.
Speaking on behalf of Governor Zulum and the people of Borno State, Deputy Governor Kadafur expressed delight over the Sheikh’s safe return, thanking Almighty Allah for bringing him back to Maiduguri.
Kadafur prayed for a peaceful, blessed and fulfilling stay for the Islamic scholar, while reaffirming the state government’s commitment to respecting religious leaders, promoting peace and unity, and strengthening moral values across the state.
The Sheikh’s return after 15 years has generated excitement among his followers and the wider Muslim community in Borno, many of whom regard him as a spiritual father, teacher and mentor.
For his admirers, the homecoming marks more than a return to Maiduguri. It is a moment of renewed spiritual connection, with prayers for lasting peace, unity and sustainable development in Borno State and Nigeria.
