Mob kills Bauchi man for alleged blasphemy

By Rauf Oyewole, Bauchi

A young man identified as Yunusa Usman was beaten to death on Wednesday by an irate mob in Nasaru, Ningi Local Council of Bauchi State for allegedly making blasphemous comments.

Reports said that Yunusa was slain at about 3pm on Wednesday after an argument about a religious sect. The situation attracted the attention of many people who were around and following the line of argument among them.

An eyewitness said that the victim was a member of Faira Islamic Sect, he was heard to have spoken words of insults on the Prophet.

“Some young men challenged Yunusa  to withdraw his statement, but he insisted he would not. He even repeated it. That was when they started beating him,” according to the witness.

According to the locals, Police personnel tried to save Yunusa but were overpowered by the mob armed with stones, sticks and other dangerous things to hit him until he died.

Confirming the incident, Spokesman of the Bauchi State Police Command, Ahmed Wakil, said that the Police is deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident in Nasaru Village on the 19th of June, 2024.

“It has come to our attention that an individual named Usman was involved in sharing information about a new religious movement known as the Fera Movement. Regrettably, this led to tensions and an altercation, resulting in his loss of life,” he said.

According to him, the Commissioner of Police, Auwal Musa Muhammad, condemned the actions of the individuals involved and emphasised the importance of upholding the law. He expressed the Command’s commitment to stepping up surveillance patrols to ensure the safety and security of all residents.

He charged the public to work hand in hand with law enforcement agencies and refrain from taking matters into their own hands. He urged the community to remain calm and carry out their daily activities without fear of intimidation, as normalcy has been restored in the affected area.