Tension is high in Mombasa following reports that Muslim cleric Sheikh Abubakar Shariff, alias Makaburi had been shot dead outside Shimo la Tewa Prison in Shanzu.
Makaburi was a close ally of fallen cleric Sheikh Aboud Rogo who was killed in August 2012. The two were clerics at the controversial Masjid Musa in Majengo where a series of raids have been carried out in the recent past to weed out alleged militant activity. Chaos erupted in King’orani and Majengo areas following the cleric’s shooting.
The identity of another person killed in the incident is yet to be confirmed. Police say Makaburi was shot by unknown assailants. According to Reuters, dozens of supporters of the Islamist gathered nearby demanding police hand over the body. The body is said to have bullet wounds to the body and head.
The cleric has been under police watch for claims that he has been supporting terrorism activities at the coast. Makaburi was last month awarded Sh670,000 in damages by a Mombasa court for the violation of his rights by the police when they raided his house in 2011.