NSCEA Warns There Seems To Be A Recurrence Of Mob Action In The Country

Re: Rampaging youths burn houses, injure pastor over ‘blasphemy’ in Bauchi

Nigerian Supreme Council for Ecclesiastical (NSCEA) warns there seems to be a recurrence of mob action in the country with events in Sokoto and Lagos in the past week giving a cause for concern.

It was reported that, “Rampaging youths burn houses, injure pastor over ‘blasphemy’ in Bauchi again on
May 21st 2022, in viral news reports. The youths ransacked the Warji Local Government Secretariat while searching for a woman who had been accused of committing blasphemy.

“Some youths, who reportedly embarked on a manhunt for a lady alleged to have committed blasphemy in Bauchi State, have burned down houses and injured a pastor in the process. The unrest broke out in the Katangan area of Warji Local Government Area of the state on Friday May 20, 2022. What is our nation Nigeria fast becoming!

According to an witness who spoke to Daily Trust, the irate search-party besieged the Warji LG Headquarters looking for one Rhoda Jatau, a 42-year-old Christian woman who allegedly posted a blasphemous message about Islam on social media. It was reported that the youths got more angered and destroyed some properties, including 11 buildings which were set ablaze, after learning that Jatau had been whisked to safety by some residents.

It took the intervention of the State Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Mamman Sanda, who deployed his men in the area to dowse the tension. An anonymous source, who confirmed the incident to The Punch, said “Yes, the incident is true. It is an aftermath of the incident of the alleged blasphemy that happened in Sokoto last week.”

Another source also told the newspaper that, “We were at home this evening when we heard shouts from some Muslim youths in their numbers who went on the rampage and besieged an ECWA Church in the area. “But Christian youths and others resisted and repelled them but that was after they had burnt down a shop attached to the church. Many houses were burnt down by the rampaging youths.

“In the process, one of the pastors of the ECWA church was seriously wounded; as I speak to you now, efforts are on to save his life.”

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Mohammed Ahmed Wakil, who gave an account of the incident said, “On 20th May, 2022 Some irate youths set six(6) Houses and seven(7) shops ablaze, while some score of persons were injured as a result of a Blasphemous message posted on a social media by one Rhoda Jatau (female) 40yrs old a staff of the Medical Department Warji Local Government.

“The Police have since deployed all Tactical Teams, Mobile Police Force and Rapid Response Squad (RRS) whose joint efforts brought the situation under control. The area is calm for now, while visibility Patrols are on going to keep the peace.”

NSCEA wonders if there is still any functional federal government in the country in the face of all these assaults. May we be reminded that the gruesome murder of Deborah Yakubu was exactly what happened to Abdullar Alhaji Umaru on 14th day of July 1999.

The case was decided by the Supreme Court in SHALLA v. STATE (2007) LPELR-3034(SC). A man called Abubakar Dan Shalla and five of his friends heard that Abdullar insulted the Prophet (SAW). According to Shalla, he told the police what happened as follows:

“On Wednesday 14/7/99 at about 2000hrs after Isha’I prayers, I, Shalla sat down at the frontage of Mosque at Faransi Area of Kardi then one Musa Yaro of Kardi came and met me with an information that, someone abused Prophet Mohammed at Randali Village which he is not sure, but he will try to find out at Randali.

On hearing that, I stood up and went inside my house and carried knife along with me, and I moved to Randali. On reaching there, I went straight to one Shugaban Samari for confirmation about the abusing of Prophet Mohammed and he assured me that, the issue is true, and that there were witnesses to testify but he did not tell me the kind of abuse. And from there, I heard someone saying, that Abdullahi Alh. Umaru who abused the Prophet had been arrested at Kardi, then I quickly went back and met Abdullahi.

As they returned back from the Village Head’s house, Musa Yaro made some quotation in Risalah which means that whoever abused Prophet Mohammed shall be killed, then people started beating Abdullahi Alh. Umaru, and Mohammed Sani matcheted him and he fell down, then I removed
the knife that was in my possession with my right.hand and slaughtered him “deceased” just along Randali-Kardi Road near a burial ground of Kardi. And we all dispersed.”

Shalla and his five friends were charged for murder or culpable homicide before the trial Judge, Ambursa, J. on 24-02-2000 of the Kebbi State High Court.

They were found guilty of murder and sentenced to die by hanging. They appeal to Court of Appeal and failed. The further appealed to Supreme Court. Here is an interesting pronouncement by My Lord the Justice I. T. Mahmud JSC who is now the Chief Justice of Nigeria. He said:

Islamic religion is not a primitive religion that allows its adherents to take the law into their own hands and to commit jungle justice. Instead, there is a judicial system in Islamic which hears and determines cases including the trial of criminal offences and any body accused of committing an offence against the religion or against a fellow Muslim brother should be taken to the court (either a Sharia or a secular / common law court) for adjudication. It is only when a person is convicted and sentenced by a court of law that he will be liable to a punishment which will be carried out by an appropriate authority (i.e. the prison)”.

He further stated that: Although it is true that there is the provision in
Risala which prescribes the punishment of death on any Muslim who insults the Holy Prophet such punishment can only be imposed by the appropriate authority (i.e. the court) rather than by any member of the society whether a Muslim or otherwise.

On the above view, Shalla and his friends that killed Abdullar on allegation of insulting the Holy Prophet were sentenced to die by the Supreme Court.

Each of them narrated fully the role he played. The 3rd accused admitted striking the deceased with a matchet on the neck, the 5th accused admitted slaughtering the deceased with a knife, the 6th accused admitted holding and pulling the deceased to the last destination, the 1st accused admitted giving the authority to kill the deceased while the 2nd and 4th accused admitted going up and down to ensure that the deceased was punished. They were all sentenced to dead.

This should be the fate of all those who actively or passively support the murder of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto in line with the above decision of the Supreme Court and anybody who commits similar offence.

NewsChristian Network

Courtesy, NSCEA