Lukuwa conducted the two-unit Eid prayer at his Mabera Mosque around 9:10 a.m., following reports that the Shawwal crescent moon had been sighted in neighbouring Niger Republic.

Sokoto-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Musa Lukuwa, led his followers in Eid al-Fitr prayers on Thursday, a day ahead of the official Sallah date declared by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar.

Lukuwa conducted the two-unit Eid prayer at his Mabera Mosque around 9:10 a.m., following reports that the Shawwal crescent moon had been sighted in neighbouring Niger Republic.

This contradicted the Sultan’s announcement that the moon had not been seen anywhere in Nigeria.

“Niger Republic is very close to us—about 100 kilometres away,” Lukuwa said. “If we accept reports from cities like Kano or Lagos, which are farther away, there is no reason to reject confirmed sightings from a neighbouring country.”

He emphasised that his decision was based on religious teachings, not defiance of the Sultan.

“We usually follow the Sultan’s directive in starting and ending Ramadan. However, when the moon is clearly sighted, we must act according to the teachings of the Prophet, even if it differs from the Sultan’s declaration,” he explained.

Lukuwa also cited the late Abubakar Mahmoud Gummi, who historically announced moon sightings before the responsibility was centralised under the Sultan to maintain unity among Muslims.

According to reports, the cleric informed his followers around midnight of the moon sighting and instructed them to return the following morning for Eid prayers.

This is not the first time Lukuwa and his followers have celebrated Eid independently of the Sultan’s official directive.

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