Alleged Blasphemy: Man, Family Escape Mob Attack In Katsina

A man, Abubakar Mani, alias Sadi, alongside his family members has escaped from a mob attack in Sabon Garin Alhaji Yahuza village of Batagarawa local government area in Katsina State, after he was accused of commiting blasphemy against Islamic faith through a Facebook post.

However, the angry mob descended on Mani’s house and burned it down, including his vehicle on Tuesday night.

Reacting to the incident, the Katsina State Police Command has called for calm, asking residents to always be law-abiding and refrain from taking the law into their hands.

A statement issued by the Command’s spokesman, Sadiq Abubakar Aliyu, stated that the Commissioner of Police, CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa, has met with the State’s Commissioner for Religious Affairs, traditional and religious leaders, as well as relevant stakeholders in the state over the development.

He urged them to call on their followers to embrace peace and be peace ambassadors at all levels of the society.

He assured that detectives were actively pursuing various leads to identify and apprehend the culprit(s) behind the dastardly act, as he further reiterated that the Command remained committed to preserving peace, law and order while ensuring the safety of the citizens in the state.

The CP emphasised that additional resources to enhance security measures throughout the area have been deployed, encouraging that more police presence, surveillance, and coordinated community engagement initiatives have been implemented to prevent any potential breach of peace.

“On January 30, 2024, about 2015 hrs, a distress call was received at the Batagarawa Divisional Police Headquarters on an ongoing protest at Sabon Garin Alhaji Yahuza Village, Batagarawa LGA, over an alleged “blasphemy” by one Mani Habu Abubakar, alias Sadi, of the same address, via a Facebook post.

“The irate crowd set ablaze his residence and motor vehicle as he and his family escaped unhurt. Upon receipt of the report, swiftly, officers were mobilised and drafted to the scene, where they successfully doused the tension, diminishing the risk of further damage.

“The command urged anyone with information related to the incident to kindly come forward and assist in the ongoing investigation,” the statement read.