Imam Muhammad Nasir Musa Gwani, chairman of the Jama'atu Izalatil Bid'ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), Makurdi Branch, Benue State, has died, marking an irreplaceable loss for the Muslim community in Nigeria.
The cleric's death was announced on Sunday morning, August 23, by Yusuf Mohammed Magaji, secretary of the Sunnah Youths Association, North Bank Branch, through a signed statement shared on his Facebook page. Magaji described the late imam as a revered Islamic scholar whose entire life was dedicated to educating Muslims.
JIBWIS, also known as the Izala Society, is a major Sunni Islamic society founded in Nigeria in 1978 to promote orthodox Islamic practices based on the Quran and Hadith.
Mourning Across Islamic Communities in Benue State
The cleric's death has triggered widespread grief across Islamic communities in Benue State and beyond, with Muslims mourning the loss of a respected scholar and religious leader. Magaji noted that the Islamic world had lost someone whose life was completely dedicated to impacting Islamic knowledge to the Umma of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) day in and day out.
In his tribute, Magaji wrote: "We wake up today, with a very sad news of the death of our beloved Imam Muhammad Nasir Musa Gwani, the chairman, JIBWIS Makurdi Branch."
The association had only appointed Imam Muhammad Nasir as its patron three months before his passing, making the loss all the more poignant for its members.
Condolences and Prayers for the Late Scholar
The Sunnah Youths Association extended condolences to the cleric's immediate family, the JIBWIS Makurdi Branch, JIBWIS Benue State, JIBWIS Nigeria, and Muslims across the world.
Magaji closed his statement with a prayer for the late scholar, writing: "May Allah in his infinite Mercy, forgives his shortcomings and grant him Jannatul Firdaus Ameen."
Magaji shared the full post on Facebook alongside photos, which have circulated widely on social media platforms.
Context of Recent Clerical Deaths in Nigeria
This development comes shortly after the death of the chief imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Saliu, whose passing was confirmed by the cleric's chief secretary, Abdulazeez Arowona. According to Arowona, Sheikh Saliu died after decades of dedicated service to Islam and the Ilorin Emirate.
The death of Imam Muhammad Nasir Musa Gwani leaves a significant void in the leadership of JIBWIS Makurdi Branch, and his contributions to Islamic education in Benue State will be remembered by the Muslim community.
