Mob burns a woman to death to have allegedly blasphemous

A woman was burned to death by a crowd in the northern Niger State of Nigeria after being accused of blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad, police said.

Police condemned the murder of women – identified in local media as a food seller named Amaye – as “jungle justice”, saying that an investigation was underway to arrest and prosecute the authors.

Local media have cited eye witnesses saying that a man jokingly proposed marriage to the seller, and his response was considered blasphemous by some people in the region.

“Unfortunately, this led to a crowd attack, and (she) was burnt down before strengthening the security teams could arrive at the scene,” said state police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun.

He called on public members to remain calm and not to take the law in their hands after the murder on Saturday in the city of Kasuwan-Garba.

These murders are not uncommon in northern Nigeria, where blasphemy is considered a criminal offense under Islamic law (Sharia law), which operates alongside secular law in 12 Muslim states.

At least two other people have been lying on such accusations in the past three years, criticisms stressing that not enough to prevent killings that have targeted Muslims and Christians.

In 2022, student Deborah Samuel was beaten and burned long in Sokoto’s condition after being accused of having made blasphemous comments.

Last year, a butcher, Usman Buda, was stoned to death in the same state in similar circumstances.

Although the constitution of Nigeria confirms freedom of expression, the country remains deeply divided on questions of faith and justice.

The Supreme Court of Nigeria judged in the past that allegations of blasphemy should be proven by a court.