Katsina State received a high-powered Federal Government delegation on Thursday following the deaths of Islamic scholar Sheikh Habibu Yahaya Kaura and former Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Lawal Bagiwa.

According to a statement on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the Deputy President of the Senate on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, the two men passed away on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, and were buried in accordance with Islamic rites.

The delegation was led by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau I Jibrin, and included the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Rt Hon James Abiodun Faleke, and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political and Other Matters, Alhaji Ibrahim Kabiru Masari.

At Sheikh Kaura’s residence, Senator Barau conveyed the Federal Government’s condolences to the late cleric’s family, as well as to the people and government of Katsina State. He described the cleric as “a truthful and upright cleric whose life was devoted to serving Allah and humanity.”

“This is a delegation of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, sent to convey his condolences over the passing of Sheikh Kaura.

His Excellency recognises the Sheikh’s contributions to the country and has described his death as a significant loss to the nation,” Senator Barau said.

Prayers were offered for the cleric, asking Allah SWT to grant him Aljannatul Firdaus and provide comfort to those he left behind.

The delegation also visited the residence of the late retired Customs official Alhaji Lawal Bagiwa. Senator Barau described him as “an accomplished public servant who served the nation diligently in the Nigeria Customs Service, rising to the position of ACG.” Condolences were extended to his family, the people, and the government of Katsina State.

Governor Dikko Umaru Radda received the delegation and thanked President Tinubu and members of the team for the visit. “This means a lot to us. I wish to sincerely thank Mr President and the entire delegation on behalf of the government and people of Katsina State, as well as the families of the deceased. We deeply appreciate this gesture,” he said.