Sokoto killing: MURIC cautions against jungle justice

No arrest yet, say Police 

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Sokoto State chapter, has condemned the murder of Usman Buda Mai Hanji for allegedly blaspheming Prophet Muhammad on recently in Sokoto.

The killing came 13 months after a 200-level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Deborah Samuel, was gruesomely killed by her fellow students, who also accused her of blaspheming.

As was the case in Samuel’s murder, nobody has been arrested in connection with the killing.

But the police spokesperson in the state, Ahmad Rufa’i, while confirming the development, said the Command has commenced investigation into the case.

Rufa’i said they received a distress call last Sunday at about 0955hrs, that one Usman Buda of Gwandu Local Council, a butcher at Sokoto Abattoir, allegedly blasphemed Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and was mobbed by some Muslim faithful, who inflicted injuries on him.

“Upon receiving the information, the Commissioner of Police, Area Commander, Metro and Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Kwanni, led a team of police officers and other operational Commanders to the scene.

“On arrival at the scene, the mob fled and left the victim unconscious where he was rescued and taken to Usmanu Danfodiyo Teaching Hospital Sokoto (UDUTH) for treatment but was later confirmed dead at the said hospital,” Rufa’i said in a statement.

The state’s Commissioner of Police, Ali Hayatu Kaigama, has appealed to residents to go about their lawful activities, assuring that the situation is under control.

Ali said investigation is on to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to book.

In a statement by the Sokoto State chapter of MURIC, Muhammad Mansur Aliyu, urged the Muslim Ummah to stop taking laws into their hands each time there is an alleged blasphemy.

It was gathered that some of the victim’s closest business associates at Sokoto abattoir made frantic efforts to rescue him, but they equally sustained injuries and have been admitted to the hospital.

“We assert that Islam abhors jungle justice, because it will lead to the taking of innocent lives and destruction of  properties of innocent persons. Islam does not allow people to do what they like or take laws into their hands as they deem fit.

“It is only the courts (Shariah and common law courts) that have powers to execute offenders after proving them guilty through fair trial.

“It is not in dispute that Islamic law provides a death sentence against anybody who insults, defames or brings disrepute to Prophet Muhammad.  However, Islamic law does not leave the killing open in the hands of private individuals as it happened in the case of Usman Buda.

“In fact, Islamic law stipulates that the offence of blasphemy, like other offences, should be established through evidence by witnesses before a court of law and the court shall pronounce such a person guilty of the blasphemy before execution could be carried out by the authorities.

“While we condemn the murder of Buda, we also urge Muslims to stop jungle justice and allow the law take its course whenever issues of such nature arise,” the statement added.

Recall that the state governor, Ahmed Aliyu, on Monday, warned that his administration would not take the issue of blasphemy lightly.

Aliyu said his administration would deal decisively with anyone found guilty of acts aimed at degrading the personality of Prophet Muhammad in line with the provision of Islamic laws.