Nigerians React As Mob Kill, Burnt Man To Death In Abuja Over Alleged Blasphemy

Residents of the Lugbe area of Abuja on Saturday witnessed a horror display of a human body after a man was killed and burnt to death over alleged blasphemy.

The victim who was said to be a member of a vigilante group was killed today for allegedly insulting Islam’s Prophet Muhammad.

The incident, Naija News understands occurred at the Timber market section of Fruit Market in Federal Housing Estate, Lugbe. It was alleged that the victim, a Muslim, was fond of insulting the prophet and the latest reportedly happened in the wee hour of Saturday.

The victim, however, was lynched around 1 pm on Saturday after seeking refuge in the vigilante office in the market. It was gathered the local security outfit was outnumbered before he was killed in front of the office, thereafter, burnt.

“The guy is known as Small Hundaru, that was not his first time of insulting the prophet before the action was taken,” said Halilu, a trader at the market who spoke with newsmen.

He added: “He was caught after buying food in the market in the afternoon, because when the blasphemy occurred it was just few people who were there, then a stick was used to hit him in the head. Though he had a gun with him, it was retrieved before the beating.

“Thereafter, he was stoned before he ran to the office. His colleagues at the office were aware but they couldn’t shield him due to the number of people that chased him. After he was unconscious, petrol was poured over him and not to stoke any fear in the market, he was burnt in front of the office.”

Naija News understands that operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command had arrived at the scene of the incident but it was too late as the victim had been burnt beyond recognition.

Nigerians have since reacted to the inhuman act meted out on the deceased. See some of the reactions below.

One Biodun Lawal [@biodunalexa] said: “So it means anyone can kill me and claim I was killed for blasphemy and go free. This is not a country. This is a zoo like Kanu says it. I have zero trust for anyone that identifies as a Muslim. And please don’t tell me Yoruba Muslims are different.”

Also reacting, another use of the microblogging platform, Veeque Dámí Jay [@Veeque_Jay], wrote: “The Deborah case has been swept under the carpet. Now, another person has been burnt alive at lugbe. Note: Both victims didn’t kill, steal or commit any offence. Since when did freedom of speech become an offense?

“Religion and politics will end us all.”

The netizen added: “I really remembered a space on the issue of blasphemy and Islam.
Most of the religious defender kept on saying “Islam is a religion of peace” yet many supported the burning of Deborah.
Now, they’re burning their own brother at lugbe! So much for a religion of peace. Remain mad!”

“I was taught in school Nigeria is a democratic not an Islamic one, in which the law rules supreme over all. Yet,I have idiots questioning the concept of freedom of speech over.

“You insult your parents, siblings, rulers etc. But when it comes to Mohammed, u draw the line. Nice,” another tweeted.

On his part, ‘Seun Fakuade [@seunfakze] “There is no value for human life. There should never be a pretext where someone’s life can be taken. But jungle justice prevails when there’s absolute breakdown of trust, & where there is no strict deterrence for criminality under any circumstance.”

Reacting further, another user of the bird app, Ekonyohe Peter Obi [@Benue_Parrot] wrote: “So, if a group of lunatics gathers to beat and set me ablaze for doing absolutely nothing, my killers will go free once they say it is for blasphemy? Jeez! How did l end up in this country cohabiting with humans like these?

Expressing worries over growing cases of jungle justice in the name of defending the Prophet, ESITERIST [@ally_praiz] wrote: “High-scale Islamic terrorism can be started in Lugbe Abuja conveniently, these dirty-looking homeless abokis are 3 times the population of decent people there. They burnt a lawyer down with his house sometime ago, now they burnt another man to death today. Nigeria is a jungle!”