A Facebook post by a Christian resident of Katsina State, Mani Abubakar, has sparked a wave of anger and violence among the local Muslim community.
The post, which has been deleted, allegedly contained insults against the Prophet of Islam and questioned the origins of the Quran.
The situation worsened when a mob of angry residents attacked Abubakar’s house and car in Babaruga, setting them ablaze. Abubakar was able to flee from his home and has gone into hiding for his safety.
The Vice Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Katsina, Muyiwa Segun, told a news outlet that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Musa, intervened to restore calm and prevent further violence. Segun appealed for religious harmony and respect among the people of Katsina.
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He said, “The victim’s life is reportedly at risk, but thanks to his escape. However, it is advised that he stays in hiding until tension subsides. CAN plans to engage with local authorities, including a visit to the Emir of Katsina, to ensure Abubakar’s safety once he decides to emerge.”
This is not the first time that Nigeria has witnessed such incidents of religious intolerance and bloodshed over allegations of blasphemy.
In 2022, a female student at the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, Deborah Yakubu, was murdered and her body burned by her classmates for allegedly sharing a blasphemous message on WhatsApp.
In 2023, a butcher named Usman Buda was killed by radical Muslims in Sokoto State for making a remark that was deemed offensive to an Islamic prophet. He made the comment during a dispute with another trader at the Sokoto Main Abattoir.