The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the mob killing of Mrs. Bridget Agbahime in Wambai market in Kano who was accused of blasphemy, describing the action as “preposterous, barbaric and unIslamic”. It urged the Nigerian Police to get to the root of the matter and bring the perpetrators to book..
The group called for sanctions against the culprits, adding that it would not stand and watch while some “misled Muslims smear the name of Islam”.
In a statement signed by its Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, the group said it was deeply saddened by the bizarre incident, stressing that the fact that the victim was a woman made it more “Bohemian, more anti-social and most unacceptable by Islamic standards, saying “Islam teaches respect for the women folk.
“Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said the noblest of men are those who honour women”.
The statement said: “Even where blasphemy is committed, the woman should have been taken to the police station instead of being brutally attacked. There is no jungle justice in Islam.
“We appeal to the Federal Government, religious leaders and traditional rulers all over the country to intensify enlightenment among the citizens particularly in the area of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence. Nigerians should eschew intense religious arguments except in scholarly and friendly environments.
“As we sum up, we recall that there are reports that the police have arrested two suspects. We dare say this is not good enough. Two people cannot publicly hold a woman down and cut off her head. Available evidence point at the participation of a large number of people. The Presidency has also shown interest. Heads must roll on this if we must make it a deterrent. We therefore urge the police to dig deeper in order to prevent future carnage. Enough is enough”.
It would be recalled that the news broke of a Christian woman, Mrs. Brigdet Agbawe, who was attacked by a mob and decapitated, after purportedly launching a verbal attack against Prophet Muhammad in a heated argument, in Wambai market, Kano, North West Nigeria.
