Again, Islamic Extremists Slaughter Man Over Blasphemy In Sokoto

A man identified as Usman Buda was on Sunday brutally killed by Islamic zealots over an allegation of blasphemy.

It was gathered that the butcher was alleged to have made the comment during an argument with a trader.

It was also gathered that the incident happened at the Sokoto main Abattoir around 8am on Sunday.

“Our leaders made a fruitless attempt to save him but they could not contain the crowd. They initially rescued him and hid him before they were overpowered.”

“He was beaten to death by his fellow butchers. His corpse was later taken away by the police,” an eyewitness told newsmen.

Another account said his closest business partners also attempted to rescue him but,”Some of them sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the hospital.”

A security operative who confirmed the incident on condition of anonymity, said the suspect was originally from Tambuwal local government area but was residing at Gidan Igwe in Sokoto North local government area.

He was selling cow entrails at the Sokoto Fish and Vegetables market which was known as Kasuwan Dankure.

A neighbour of the suspect who simply identified himself as Malam Yusuf described his death as painful.

“Usman is my immediate neighbour. He is very religious, in fact, he belonged to Izala sect. We prayed and attended Tafsir together at Primary board quarters. There is no way he could make such a statement against the Holy Prophet.”

“There must be a reason behind his murder. Because he is very popular in his business of selling cow entrails and was envied by many of his colleagues,” he said

A perishable items seller at Kasuwan Dankure meat and vegetable market whose stand is next to that of Usman expressed shock over the development.

“I have not been myself since I heard about what happened. I know Usman liked arguments on religious issues but I didn’t hear him even for once using derogatory remarks against the Prophet’s companions,” he said

Another butcher in the market said “this is how God destined his end.

“The cow entrails seller next to him will now come back, because he has been out of the business since during the fasting period due to lack of patronage. Because people patronize Usman more than him,” he said

While confirming the incident, Sokoto police spokesperson Ahmad Rufai said;

“We got a distress call in the morning around 9:20 a.m. that a mob attacked one person by name Usman Buda, at Abattoir in Sokoto,” Mr Rufai said. “They alleged him to have insulted prophet Mohammed (SWAT).

“On reaching the scene, people there took to their heels leaving him in bloodshed, seriously injured. We rescued him and took him to hospital. Unfortunately, later in the day he passed away.”

The police spokesperson further said they have commenced investigations to apprehend the killers of Mr Buda.

The murder comes barely a year after Deborah Samuel, a Christian student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Wamako, Sokoto State, was killed over a similar allegation of blasphemy by Islamic fanatics.

In May, Nigerian police charged Ms Samuel’s killers with “public disturbance” and failed to show up in court as prosecutors.

Condemning the Mr Buda murder, Amnesty International charged the Nigerian government to investigate the matter.

“Amnesty International strongly condemns the killing of Usman Buda today at a market in Sokoto over alleged blasphemy. Nigerian authorities must immediately investigate this horrifying incident and ensure that those suspected of being responsible are brought to justice,” the human rights organisation said in a tweet.