Mob stones butcher to death over alleged blasphemy in Sokoto

A mob has stoned a butcher identified as Usman Buda to death in Sokoto state for allegedly blaspheming Prophet Muhammad.

According to reports, the butcher allegedly made the comment during an argument with another trader at the Sokoto main Abattoir around 8 am on Sunday.

“Our leaders made a fruitless attempt to save him but they could not contain the crowd. They initially rescued him and hid him before they were overpowered.

“He was beaten to death by his fellow butchers. His corpse was later taken away by the police,” an eyewitness told Daily Trust.

Another account said some of Buda’s closest business partners who attempted to rescue him sustained injuries and “are currently receiving treatment at the hospital”.

The deceased reportedly hailed from Tambuwal local government area but resided at Gidan Igwe in Sokoto North local government area.

He sold cow entrails at the Sokoto Fish and Vegetables Market.

One of his neighbours identified as Malam Yusuf described his death as painful.

“Usman is my immediate neighbour. He is very religious; in fact, he belonged to Izala sect. We prayed and attended Tafsir together at primary board quarters. There is no way he could make such a statement against the Holy Prophet.

“There must be a reason behind his murder because he is very popular in his business of selling cow entrails and was envied by many of his colleagues,” he said.

A trader who sells perishable goods at Kasuwan Dankure meat and vegetable market whose stand was next to that of Buda also expressed shock over the tragic incident.

“I have not been myself since I heard about what happened. I know Usman liked arguments on religious issues but I didn’t hear him even for once using derogatory remarks against the Prophet’s companions,” he said

However, the specific statement made by Buda which was considered to be blasphemous was not stated in the report.

Meanwhile, the state police command has confirmed the mob killing.

The command said it received a distress call at about 9:20 am that one Usman Buda of Gwandu local government area, a “butcher at Sokoto Abattoir allegedly blasphemed the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and as a result, he was mobbed and attacked”.

“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 Danfodiyo Teaching Hospital Sokoto (UDUTH) for treatment and was later confirmed dead,” a statement signed by the spokesperson for the police command, ASP Ahmad Rufa’I, said.

“Meanwhile, Investigation is on to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to book,” it added.

This comes a year after a female student of Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, Deborah Samuel, was burnt to death by her colleagues for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad.

She was beaten and killed by Muslim students who dragged her out of her hostel.

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