Following the brutal killing of a butcher for alleged blasphemy in the Sokoto Market, the State Governor, Dr Ahmed Aliyu, has called on the people of the state to remain calm and law abiding at all times.
It is the second of such deaths in 13 months in Sokoto after a female Christian student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Deborah Samuel Yakubu, was beaten and stoned to death last year May for allegedly making blasphemous comments about the founder of the Islamic faith in a WhatsApp group platform of her classmates.
According to the Sokoto State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i on Sunday, “A distress call was received at about 09:20 am that one Usman Buda of Gwandu Local Government Area, a butcher at Sokoto Abattoir, allegedly blasphemed the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as a result he was mobbed and attacked.
“Upon receiving the information, the Commissioner of Police, Area Commander Metro and DPO Kwanni led a team of policemen and all other operational commanders to the scene.
“On arrival, the mob escaped the scene and left the victim unconscious, where he was rescued and taken to Usmanu Danfodiyo Teaching Hospital Sokoto, for treatment and was later confirmed dead. Meanwhile, Investigation is on to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to book.”
Meanwhile, the governor’s plea in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Malam Abubakar Bawa, following the attack on Usman Buda Mai Hanji, “cautioned the people against any act capable of degrading the personality of Prophet Muhammad SAW especially in a State like Sokoto which is predominantly a Muslim dominated community.”
The statement reads further: “Dr Aliyu said that Sokoto people have so much respect and regard for Prophet Muhammad SAW,hence the need for all the residents to respect, protect his dignity and personality.
““I want to call on the people of Sokoto State to avoid taking laws into their hands, instead, they report any alleged crime or blasphemy to the approrriate quarters for necessary action.
“Our religion does not encourage taking laws into one’s hand, so let us try to be good followers of our religion,”” he appealed.
“The Governor also said the present administration will not take the issue of blasphemy lightly,and will deal decisively with any one found guilty of any act aimed at degrading the personality of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, in line with the provision of Islamic laws.
“The governor assured the people of the State of his administration’s commitment to guarantee the safety of lives and property of all law abiding citizens.
“The governor also warned would be trouble makers to have a change of mind, adding that Sokoto is a wrong place for them.”