Blasphemy : 8 Burnt to Death in Polytechnic

Ibrahim Shuaibu in Gusau

No fewer than eight people have been burnt to death by a mob at Abdu Gusau Polytechnic, Talata Mafara of Zamfara state as a result of alleged blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by a student of college.

The incident occurred on Monday when a male student alleged to have committed a blasphemy during an exchange of words with a Muslim friend, a situation which caused tension in the school.

It was also learnt that a mob had penetrated into the house where the alleged person was said to be hiding to avoid being lynched.

After they gained entrance, they set the house ablaze along with seven other persons in it. .

Police in Zamfara state confirmed the incident and imposed an indefinite curfew in the town with a view to restoring peace in the area.

Spokesman of the police in the state, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Shehu Muhammad, in a press statement, cautioned any person or group of persons found violating the curfew order to desist from doing so or they would be arrested and prosecuted.

The police then called on religious leaders in the state to engage their faithful to embrace peace and eschew violence of any kind for peaceful coexistence to thrive.

However, the authority of the polytechnic has closed down the institution with immediate effect for sanity.