No fewer than eight people have been burnt to death by a mob at Abdu Gusau Polytechnic, Talata Mafara of Zamfara state as a result of alleged blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by a student of college.
The victims of the massacre
Violence erupted in Talata-Mafara community in Zamfara state on Monday as no fewer than eight persons were killed over alleged blasphemy by a student of Abdu Gusau Polytechnic, Talata-Mafara.
It was learnt that the student was alleged to have made a blasphemous statement against Islam and Prophet Muhammad and was consequently attacked by a mob.
According to a report by
Vanguard, the boy was said to have been beaten to pulp by the mob, and a man whose name was simply given as Tajudeen, rescued him, took him in his car and rush to a hospital.
Eyewitnesses said that the mob who were enraged by the act of the man who rescued the student, moved to his (Tajudeen’s) house, set it on fire and killed eight persons.
The state governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, joined hundreds of people to bury the deceased, and called for an emergency Security Council meeting over the incident, expressed sadness and vowed that “no stone will be left unturned until all those behind this act are brought to book”.
The police have imposed a 12-hour curfew in the community, from 7p.m. to 7a.m. daily until further notice, with warning that anyone caught violating the order would be prosecuted.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has spoken out in disgust of the massacre. He took to his Twitter and penned some words assuring Nigerians that justice will be served to the perpetrators.
Below is what he wrote: