Again, Muslim Extremists Set Man Ablaze for Alleged Blasphemy in Abuja

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Barely three weeks after Miss Deborah Samuel, a 200-level Home Economics student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, was killed and set ablaze by a mob over a comment, which her Muslim colleagues considered blasphemous of Prophet Mohammed (SAW), a man was yesterday set ablaze in Abuja for a similar offence.

In the latest incident, which occurred near the Tipper Garage Section of the Fruit Market at the Federal Housing Estate in Lugbe, precisely on the international airport corridor, the man was set ablaze for allegedly blaspheming Prophet Mohammed.

The FCT Police Command confirmed the incident, saying it had restored normalcy to the community.
Angry Muslim youths said to be numbering more than 200 were said to have summarily killed the victim, identified as Ahmad Usman and said to be a member of the local vigilance group just after mid-day.

THISDAY gathered that they clubbed him to death and poured petrol on his body before setting him on fire.
He died before police arrived at the scene and shot into the air to disperse the crowd. It was gathered that three persons were shot during the violence.

The victim allegedly sought refuge at the office of the local vigilance group but could not be saved from the wrath of the attackers, who outnumbered the security outfit before handing summary punishment to their victim said to be 30 years old.

When THISDAY visited the scene of the incident, thick smoke from firewoods and burnt tyres enveloped the spot where he was set ablaze.

The incident forced many traders at the Tipper Garage to hurriedly lock their shops for fear that the hoodlums would capitalise on the violence to burn and loot shops as was the case recently during the riot at Dei-Dei International Market.

In a statement, yesterday, signed by Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Police Command, DSP Josephine Adeh, the deceased was said to have got into an argument with a Cleric whose identity was yet unknown.

The police said the heated argument degenerated into an outbreak of violence that led to the murder and setting ablaze of Ahmad Usman by the enraged mob mobilised numbering about 200, who were mobilised by the cleric.
The police spokesperson said that upon the receipt of the information, a quick intervention team comprising of the Surveillance and Ambush team of the Command attached to the Lugbe Divisional Police Headquarters was drafted to the scene where the enflamed victim was rescued suffering severe degrees of burn and taken immediately to the hospital where he was confirmed dead by a doctor on call.

“Normalcy has since been restored to the situation, while monitoring and surveillance of the area continues. Residents are therefore urged to go about their lawful duties without fear or apprehension of any kind from any quarters as the discrete investigation continues to unravel facts surrounding the ugly incident and to effect the arrest of the perpetrators therein.

“The Commissioner of Police CP Babaji Sunday while warning against the indiscriminate act of self-help in obtaining justice known as jungle justice, stated that adequate sanctions will be meted on subscribers of this crude and dastardly act,” Adeh explained.