Mob kills man over blasphemy in Sokoto

Usman Buda, a butcher in Sokoto, was slain by an angry mob after he was accused of uttering insulting remarks about the Prophet Muhammad.

Yesterday at around 10:00 am, the tragedy happened in the abattoir in Sokoto city.

Buda made a profane remark that he repeated three times after being addressed by some of the others there, according to a witness who only gave his name as Aliyu and spoke to Premium Times over the phone.

“My brother was at the abattoir when it occurred. When Usman (Buda) insulted the Prophet, some people said he had mental issues, but most of those around him, who were his business friends, said he was never known to have any mental problems,” he said.

However, the blasphemous word Buda was accused of saying was not said by the witness.

Ahmad Rufai, the Sokoto State Police command's spokesperson, confirmed the killing in a statement.

He claimed that as soon as the command learned about the incident, it sprang into action.

“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.

“Upon receiving the information, the Commissioner of Police, Area Commander Metro and DPO Kwanni led a team of policemen and all other operational commanders to the scene. On arrival, the mob escaped the scene and left the victim unconscious; where he was rescued and taken to Usmanu Danfodio Teaching Hospital Sokoto (UDUTH) for treatment and was later confirmed dead at the said hospital. Meanwhile, the area is calm,” he said.

The command, according to Rufai, had launched an investigation into the occurrence.

Source