Lokoja was one of the first places in present middle Belt region to come into contact with the Tijjaniya order. Two major chains of authority of the order had been acting in Lokoja, before the emergence in the area of Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass ( FAILA) movement in 1949.
These included the UMARIAN TIJJANIYA,and a MAQRIBIAN branch of the order.
Muhammad Bashir, the leader of of Tukulor Tijjaniya community and his son, Umar Futi , the founder of the Tukulor Empire in Senegal 1852- 1864, was exiled to Lokoja by British, Bashir was said to have established the First TIJJANIYA ZAWIYYA in Lokoja in 1904.
In 1917, Malam Abdulsalam obtained Muqqaddam of the Tijjaniya order from Sayyid Muhammad, a direct descendant of Sheikh Ahmadu Tijjani,founder of Tijjaniya order world wide.
Sheikh Abdulsalam held Muqqaddam leadership from 1917-1934 and was succeeded by Shariff Muhammad zagina ,who reigned between 1934-1966.
Late Abdulsalam and Zangina featured prominently in the propagation of the order in Lokoja before the emergence of of Nyass FAILA ,which later overshadowed the earlier branches.
After the introduction of Nyass branch of Tijjaniya order ( FAILA) in 1949 in Lokoja, a new crop of active Muqqaddams emergence in the area.
These included Sheikh Abdul Dan Lele, Sheikh Yusuf Abdallah,Sheikh Shuiabu Kenchi to mention few.
Sanusi’s visit to Okene
The Tijjaniya order was brought to Ebiraland through Lokoja. The first initiates into the order was Attah Ibrahim ,the first Muslim Chief of Ebiraland.
He was initiated into the order in 1920 by an intirant schooler from Zaria ,Malam Tsoho whose itinary use to take him to Lokoja then to Okene .
The leading schooler and Muqqaddam of the order who spearhead its popularization in Ebiraland land was sheikh Ahmed Rufai, Sheikh Ahmed obtained the Muqqaddam title from Malam Ghali in Lokoja in 1931. On his return to Okene from Lokoja in the same year, Rufai began to convert Ebiras to both Islam and Tijjaniya brotherhood.
Apart from playing the role of center for Islamic learning,Lokoja also serve as a center for the diffusion of the first Tijjaniya brotherhood in the entire North Central region of Nigeria or Niger – Benue Confluence area as it was before.
The first Zawiyya in the entire region was built in Lokoja in 1904 and the two prominent branches of Tijjaniya order ,the Umarian and Nyassiya( Faila) were adequately represented in the area,since most of the Ulama or Islamic clerics who came to Lokoja or stayed in Lokoja were either members or Muqqaddams of the order ,that was why they succeeded in establishing Tijjaniya culture in Lokoja from which it was taken to other towns and villeges in and around the middle Belt region.
Because of the importance of Lokoja and it influence in Tijjani brotherhood not only in middle Belt region but Nigeria as a whole, the Khalifah of Tijjaniyya Movement in Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi, is currently undertaking a three days visit to Lokoja kogi state.
Sanusi , who arrived Lokoja on Thursday, paid a courtesy called on His Royal Highness,the Maigari of Lokoja, Alhaji (Dr) Muhammadu Kabir Maikarfi 111,at his palace in Lokoja.
Sanusi said the visit was part of his tour to leaders of the Islamic movement after his appointment as its leader in Nigeria.
The former emir said he decided to visit Lokoja
to meet with leaders of the group from the area.
He said the sect was known for promoting peace, brotherhood and collaboration even with non-Muslims.
The former Emir who led the juma’a service at Lokoja Central mosque is scheduled to visit the residence of late sheikh Yusuf Abdallah on Saturday 21 August 2021 by 10 a.m prompt. He will be receive by Khalifah Hon justice Nurudeen Yusuf Abdallah
Sponsored by Sulaiman Baba,the Daman of Lokoja and member of Lokoja Traditional council.
