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Tag: Blasphemy

  • Tragedy as woman is burnt alive in Niger over alleged blasphemy

    Tragedy as woman is burnt alive in Niger over alleged blasphemy

    A woman identified as Amaye, a food vendor, was lynched and set ablaze by a mob over alleged blasphemous remarks against Prophet Muhammad.

    TheNewsGuru.com(TNG) learnt that the incident occurred in Kasuwan-Garba town, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State on Saturday, August 30th, 2025.

    Reports indicated that the after a customer jokingly expressed interest in marrying the woman, citing the tradition of the Prophet. In her response, she allegedly made comments deemed offensive by some residents.

    A community source who spoke with Daily Trust said, “She was first taken to the palace of the District Head of Kasuwan-Garba, who later handed her over to security operatives for investigation. But before the matter could be properly handled, the mob overpowered the security men and lynched her.”

    The Spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday.

    He said, “On 30/8/2025 at about 2pm, report received indicated that one Amaye, a female of Kasuwan-Garba, Mariga LGA, made some comments against the Islamic prophet. Unfortunately, it led to a mob attack and she was set ablaze before the reinforcement of the security teams.”

    Abiodun added that efforts are ongoing to ensure that those responsible are arrested, investigated, and prosecuted.

    The Chairman of Mariga LGA, Abbas Adamu Kasuwan-Garba, confirmed that calm has since returned to the community after the violent incident.

    “We have restored normalcy to the town, and security personnel are on the ground to forestall further breakdown of law and order,” he said.

  • Angry mob attacks churches over allegations of blasphemy

    Angry mob attacks churches over allegations of blasphemy

    An enraged mob in Pakistan vandalised churches in a Christian neighbourhood over allegations of blasphemy, officials said on Wednesday.

    Hundreds of people rioted in a Christian neighbourhood in the city of Jaranwala in Punjab province, security sources said.

    According to the sources, the violence was sparked by two Christian men accused by the rioters of having desecrated the Koran.

    “The situation is tense and we are trying to defuse it,” said an official familiar with the incident.

    Videos shared on social media showed hundreds of men gathered in front of a church and chanting slogans against the community.

    Pakistan’s Bishop Azad Marshall called on the police to act.

    “As I write this message, a church building is being burned down,” Marshall wrote on the online platform X, previously known as Twitter.

    “Bibles have been desecrated and Christians have been tortured and harassed because they were falsely accused of violating the Holy Quran.”,he said.

    Blasphemy is a sensitive issue in Pakistan, with those accused often targeted by extremist Muslim groups.

    In some cases, people have been gunned down, burned alive or bludgeoned to death.

    In one of such incidents in 2020, a Pakistani-U.S. citizen was shot and killed inside a courtroom during his trial.

    In 2021, a Sri Lankan national was tortured to death over blasphemy allegations.

  • Protests in Abuja over ”blasphemy” in Sweden

    Protests in Abuja over ”blasphemy” in Sweden

    Some Muslim youths protested at National Mosque’s premises in Abuja to express their anger with what happened in Sweden recently, which they called blasphemy.

    Recall that an Iraqi Christian immigrant had few days ago burned Islam’s holy book outside a Stockholm mosque during the major Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, an act that the man said displayed his feelings about the Quran

    The burning triggered widespread condemnation in the Islamic world and other Christian leaders with similar recent protests by a far-right activist, it sparked a debate in Sweden about the limits of freedom of speech.

    It was learnt that the protest in Abuja started shortly before the Jumma’t prayers and continued after the prayers when more youths joined the protest, thus obstructing vehicular movements.

    Expressing their displeasure by carrying placards with messages like “Qur’an is our guide”, among several others, and also chanting solidarity songs, the protesters barricaded the road, thus causing motorists to take alternative routes to their destination.

    They demanded that world leaders speak up on the matter and demanded severe punishment for the Iraqi immigrant who committed the crime in Sweden, which they described as blasphemy.

  • Sokoto Governor Vows to Deal Decisively with Blasphemers

    Sokoto Governor Vows to Deal Decisively with Blasphemers

    In the wake of a recent incident involving the killing of a butcher accused of making blasphemous comments against Prophet Muhammad, Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State has issued a stern warning against any acts that degrade the personality of the Prophet.

    The Governor’s spokesperson Abubakar Bawa, released a statement conveying Governor Aliyu’s position on the issue of blasphemy and the importance of respecting and protecting the dignity and personality of Prophet Muhammad in a predominantly Muslim-dominated community like Sokoto, urging residents to remain calm and law-abiding.

    “Our religion does not encourage taking laws into one’s hands, so let us try to be good followers of our religion,” the statement quoted Governor Aliyu as saying.

    The Governor emphasized that any alleged crime or blasphemy should be reported to the appropriate authorities rather than resorting to vigilantism.

    He assured the people of Sokoto that the present administration would not take the issue of blasphemy lightly and would deal decisively with anyone found guilty of degrading the personality of Prophet Muhammad in accordance with Islamic laws.

    Governor Aliyu also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property for all law-abiding citizens.

    Blasphemy cases have been a contentious issue in Nigeria, often leading to public outrage and tragic outcomes.

    The recent incident in Sokoto, where a butcher was killed after allegedly making blasphemous comments against Prophet Muhammad, has sparked concerns about religious tolerance and the rule of law.

    The Sokoto State Police Command has launched an investigation into the incident, and it is hoped that the authorities will bring the perpetrators of the recent violence to justice, promoting a climate of tolerance, understanding, and respect for religious beliefs in Sokoto and beyond.

  • Violence erupts in Sokoto as blasphemy accusation claims another life

    Violence erupts in Sokoto as blasphemy accusation claims another life

    In a tragic incident that took place at the Sokoto metropolis abattoir on Sunday,  a butcher Usman Buda, was brutally killed by an enraged mob after being accused of making blasphemous comments against Prophet Muhammad.

    It was gathered that Buda’s alleged blasphemous comments against Prophet Muhammad, triggered a confrontation with the people present.

    Eyewitnesses reported that when confronted about his comments, Buda defiantly repeated them, refusing to retract his statement.

    While some suggested that he may have had mental health issues, his business acquaintances, who were familiar with him, attested that he had no history of such problems.

    As tensions escalated, the mob began to attack and beat him mercilessly, ultimately leading to his demise. However, the precise nature of the blasphemous statement Buda made was not disclosed by the witnesses.

    Confirming the incident, the Sokoto State Police Command released a statement through its spokesperson, Ahmad Rufai, stating that they received a distress call and promptly intervened.

    “On 25th June, 2023 at about 0955hrs, a distress call was received at about 0920hrs that one Usman Buda ‘M’ of Gwandu LGA, a butcher at Sokoto Abattoir allegedly blasphemed the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW); as a result, he was mobbed and attacked by some Muslims faithful and inflicted serious injuries on him,” the police said in a statement.

    Unfortunately, the mob had fled the scene, leaving Buda unconscious. He was immediately rushed to Usmanu Danfodio Teaching Hospital Sokoto for treatment but was later pronounced dead.

    The police have launched an investigation into the matter, aiming to apprehend those responsible for the gruesome act and the situation in the area has since returned to a state of calm.

    Deborah Yakubu lynched over allegations of blasphemy in Kaduna State, Nigeria.

    This horrifying incident follows a similar case in May 2022 when a student at the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto Deborah Samuel, was lynched by her fellow students on accusations of blasphemy.

    The shocking nature of these crimes has sparked nationwide outrage, with calls for justice and appeals to the government to apprehend the perpetrators.

    These incidents also underscore the urgent need for measures to protect freedom of speech and religious tolerance, ensuring that justice is served and such acts of violence are unequivocally condemned in society.

  • Barely a year after killing Deborah, Islamic extremists again slaughter man in Sokoto over blasphemy

    Barely a year after killing Deborah, Islamic extremists again slaughter man in Sokoto over blasphemy

    A group of Islamic extremists on Sunday killed a butcher, Usman Buda, for alleged blasphemy in  Sokoto State.

    Ahmad Rufai, Sokoto police spokesperson, confirmed the killing on Sunday evening.

    He 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.

    Condemning the 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.

    Recall that on  12th of May 2022, a 200-level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Deborah Samuel was gruesomely killed by her fellow students who accused her of blaspheming Prophet Muhammad.

  • One Year On: Justice Eludes Deborah Samuel, Victim of Blasphemy Killing

    One Year On: Justice Eludes Deborah Samuel, Victim of Blasphemy Killing

    One year after the brutal murder of Deborah Samuel, a Christian woman accused of blasphemy, justice is yet to be served as her killers remain at large.

    Samuel was reportedly beaten to death by a mob in her home in Kaduna State on May 12, 2022, after being accused of insulting the prophet Muhammad.

    The gruesome incident sparked outrage from various quarters, with many calling for justice for the deceased.

    In a statement released by the Inter-Faith Council, they condemned the heinous act and urged the government to ensure that those responsible for the killing are brought to justice.

    One year later, the case remains unresolved, with no one held accountable for the murder.

    The lack of progress in the case has caused frustration among Samuel’s family and human rights activists, who have accused the government of not doing enough to bring the perpetrators to book.

    Speaking on the matter, a human rights activist, Emeka Umeagbalasi, expressed his disappointment at the lack of progress, stating that it is unacceptable that one year after the incident, no one has been held accountable for the murder of Samuel.

    Meanwhile, the Inter-Faith Council has renewed their call for justice, stating that it is essential to ensure that such acts of violence do not occur again.

    They also urged the government to do more to protect religious minorities and ensure that they are not targeted for their beliefs.

    The case of Deborah Samuel is just one of many instances of religious violence in Nigeria, with Christians and Muslims being targeted in different parts of the country.

    The government has been called upon to take decisive action to address the issue and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.

  • Death sentence on Islamic cleric excites group in Zamfara

    Death sentence on Islamic cleric excites group in Zamfara

    A Zamfara-based Islamic group on Wednesday in Gusau commended Kano Upper Shari’a Court for convicting an Islamic scholar, Abduljabbar Kabara to death by hanging for blasphemy.

    The Kano Upper Shari’a Court sentenced Kabara to death by hanging on Dec. 15, 2022, over blasphemous comments against Prophet Muhammad.

    Chairman of the “Joint Youths Islamic Organisations’’, Malam Sanusi Kwatarkwashi gave the kudos to the court at an interactive session with the media and some Islamic organisations.

    “We commend Kano State government for arraigning the cleric at a competent Islamic Court over blasphemy.

    “That was a good lesson for people like Kabara who thought they could blaspheme the prophet of Islam and go scot free.

    “We also appreciate the Judge, Ibrahim Sarki-Yola for the justifiable judgment that sentenced Kabara to death by hanging.

    “On behalf of all Islamic organisations in Zamfara, we are appealing to Kano State government to continue to pursue the case.

    “We as Muslims are assiduously waiting for the day when Kabara will be hanged publicly to serve as a lesson to other blasphemers,’’ he said.

    In his remarks, Chairman, Zamfara Ulama (clerics) Consultative Council, Sheikh Abubakar Fari said the judgment showed that Kano State and Muslims adhere to the rule of law and to due judicial process.

    Sheikh Fari called on people of the two states to continue to pray for peace and stability in Nigeria as a whole.

    Also speaking, Chairman, Zamfara Preaching and Jumu’a Mosque Commission, Sheikh Aminu Aliyu described Kabara’s actions as ugly and worthy of condemnation as they were totally against the teachings of Islam.

    Also chairman of Jama’atul Izalatil Bid’ah Wa’ikamatis Sunnah in Zamfara, Alhaji Na’alla Zurmi said Islamic organisations were ready to support Kano State government to follow up the case up to the Supreme Court.

    In his remarks, Chairman, Zamfara Anti-Corruption Commission, Barrister Aliyu Abdullahi said Islamic law and the Supreme Court also recommended death penalty for blasphemers.

    Abdullahi urged Muslims to always adhere to due process and to go through court processes at all times to address issues.

  • Kano Court sentences Sheik Nasiru to death by hanging for blasphemy

    Kano Court sentences Sheik Nasiru to death by hanging for blasphemy

    Sheik AbdulJabar Nasiru, has been sentenced to death for blasphemy against the Prophet of Islam, by Kano Senior Magistrate, Justice Ibrahim Sarki Yola in Kano.

    Justice Ibrahim Sarki Yola found Sheik AbdulJabar Nasiru Kabara guilty of blasphemy and all charges levelled against him, where he was accused of making unremarkable statements against the prophet Muhammad.

    The defendant, in adopting his final written addresses dated and filed Sept.20, urged the court to dismiss the case filed by the Kano State Government against him and order the state to apologise to him.

    But the prosecution counsel, Mamman Lawan-Yusufari, SAN, closed the case after four witnesses testified while the defendant presented one witness and tendered 24 books and memory card evidence to prove his case.

    The defendant noted that he was the only witness available.

    He was subsequently sentenced to death by hanging by the presiding magistrate.

  • We’re still searching for Deborah’s killers – Sokoto Police

    We’re still searching for Deborah’s killers – Sokoto Police

    The Sokoto State Police Command said the killers of Deborah Samuel are yet to be arrested.

    Deborah, a student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education was in May 2022, stoned to death by some students believed to be her classmates over alleged blasphemy.

    DSP Sanusi Abubakar, the spokesman for the command, explained that those arrested by the police were not the prime suspects, saying that they were only among those who organised the riot.

    The spokesman further explained that those arrested were still in remand custody as ordered by the court, explaining that the prime suspects were still at large and efforts were ongoing to arrest them.

    He stated, “Those ones we arrested then, though not the suspected killers, contributed to the violent riot and were arraigned in court where the judge ordered that they be remanded. Concerning those suspected killers, we have circulated their pictures to media houses and sent our intelligence to every part of the state.”

    DSP Abubakar emphasized that the Command was still on the lookout for them and are confident of arresting them wherever they may be hiding, assuring that they would flush them out and arraign them before a competent court of law.

    He assured that the command would not be biased on the case, stressing that the state Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Gumel, would ensure that justice was served on the case.