Islamic cleric Musa Ayuba Lukuwa has declared that he and his followers completed the Ramadan fast on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, signaling the end of the holy month for his congregation.
In a video shared on Facebook, the cleric stated that they would proceed to observe Eid al-Fitr prayers on Thursday, marking the beginning of Shawwal.
His announcement came shortly after Sa’ad Abubakar confirmed that the moon had not been sighted in Nigeria.
According to Sheikh Lukuwa, Ramadan 1447 lasted 29 days for his group, prompting their decision to conclude the fast and prepare for the Eid celebration.
He explained that reports of moon sighting had already emerged from Niger, which he noted is geographically closer to parts of northern Nigeria than cities like Lagos.
Speaking further, he assured his followers that the Eid prayer would go ahead as planned, emphasizing that their position was not an act of defiance against the Sultan.
He maintained that they remain loyal to the traditional religious authority but were surprised that the reported moon sighting was not officially announced.
The cleric added that his group has always followed leadership directives whenever moon sightings are confirmed.
However, he addressed claims that only the Sultan has the sole authority to declare moon visibility, arguing that such a position is not strictly supported within the framework of Islamic law.
