A tragic incident unfolded in Niger State on Saturday as a woman was set ablaze by a mob over alleged blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad.
The victim, identified by local media as Amaye, a food vendor in Kasuwan-Garba town, was accused after an exchange with a man who jokingly proposed marriage to her. Her response was reportedly deemed blasphemous, sparking outrage among some locals.
State police spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, described the killing as “jungle justice” and confirmed that security operatives were unable to save her before she was attacked and burnt to death.
“An investigation is ongoing to arrest and prosecute all perpetrators of this barbaric act,” Abiodun said while urging residents to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands.
The 9am News report shows that mob violence linked to blasphemy accusations remains a recurring problem in northern Nigeria, where Islamic (Sharia) law operates alongside secular law in 12 states.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have long warned that blasphemy allegations are often “weaponised to settle personal scores.” Minor disagreements, they noted, are sometimes deliberately escalated, resulting in instant mob lynchings without due process.
In recent years, several Nigerians have suffered similar fates.
- In 2022, Deborah Samuel, a student in Sokoto State, was beaten and burned alive after being accused of blasphemous remarks.
- In 2023, Usman Buda, a butcher, was stoned to death under similar circumstances, also in Sokoto.
Despite constitutional guarantees of free speech and rulings by Nigeria’s Supreme Court that blasphemy allegations must be proven in court, enforcement remains weak, and mob justice continues to thrive.
Critics say not enough is being done to protect lives and uphold justice in such cases. Civil rights advocates stress that until perpetrators of mob violence are consistently prosecuted, the cycle of extrajudicial killings will continue.
Authorities have again appealed for calm and assured that arrests will be made in connection with Amaye’s death.
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