The Niger State Police Command says it has intensified efforts and investigations to arrest the perpetrators of the recent alleged blasphemy that led to the gruesome death of a food vendor, Amaye.
The police command, through its spokesman, SP Wasi’u Abiodun, said the command condemns any act of jungle justice, urging members of the public to remain calm.
He said the police received a report that on August 30 at about 2 p.m., one Amaye, a female of Kasuwan-Garba in Mariga Local Government Area, made some comments against the Islamic prophet.
Abiodun said, unfortunately, her action led to a mob attack, and she was subsequently set ablaze before the reinforcement of the security teams.
He added that efforts are being made to ensure that arrests are made, investigated and prosecuted, while normalcy is restored in the area.
It would be recalled that eyewitness accounts said the incident began in the nearby community of Igwama, where the woman, who is also a Muslim and well known by residents of the area, reportedly exchanged words with a young man said to be her nephew.
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It was gathered that the young man jokingly told her that he wanted to marry her to “fulfil the Sunnah”, which allegedly made the woman make statements considered blasphemous, causing outrage among locals.
The matter was said to have been taken to the palace of the district head of Kasuwan Garba, where the woman was interrogated and reportedly repeated the remarks.
The development led the district head to subsequently hand her over to security operatives for further investigation, but a crowd of agitated youths insisted on her immediate lynching.
It was further gathered that despite attempts by security personnel to protect her, the mob overpowered them and stoned her to death.
