The Nigeria Police Force Federal Capital Territory Command has commenced an investigation into the “blasphemy killing” of a 30-year-old man, Ahmad Usman, that occurred on Saturday in the Lugbe area of Abuja.
Disclosing this on Saturday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, normalcy has since been restored to the area concerning the situation.
She noted that monitoring and surveillance of the area by the police continues.
“Residents are, however, urged to go about their lawful duties without fear or apprehension of any kind from any quarters as discrete investigation continues to unravel facts surrounding the ugly incident and to effect the arrest of the perpetrators therein.
“We understand that one Ahmad Usman a 30years old member of the local vigilante around Tippa garage at Federal Housing Estate in Lugbe Area of the Federal Capital Territory got into an argument with a Cleric (Mallam) whose name is yet unknown from the same area.
“The heated argument degenerated into an outbreak of violence that led to the murder and setting ablaze of Ahmad Usman by the enraged mob mobilized by the clergy numbering about two hundred,”
The police also stated that its officers intervened and that they were able to stop the violence from escalating.
“Upon the receipt of this information, a quick intervention team comprising of The Surveillance and Ambush team of the Command attached to the Lugbe Divisional Police Headquarters was drafted to the scene where the enflamed victim was rescued suffering severe degrees of burn and taken immediately to the hospital where he was confirmed dead by a Doctor on call,” Adeh asserted.
The Commissioner of Police, Babaji Sunday, warned against the indiscriminate resort to jungle justice.
He said, “We’re outrightly against jungle justice. The law is against, and adequate sanctions will be meted on subscribers of this crude and dastardly act.”
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) recalls that on 12 May 2022, Deborah Samuel, a student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, was murdered over alleged blasphemy.
Two students, Bilyaminu Aliyu and Aminu Hukunchi, were arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court in Sokoto, over the killing of the second-year student (Deborah Samuel).
The students were charged with conspiracy and inciting public disturbance—both of which they pleaded not guilty to. The charges carry a minimum two-year jail term upon conviction.