For the killers of Madam Bridget
Agbahime, who was murdered in Kano last week for alleged blasphemy, more
knocks came yesterday as the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), the Christian
Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and the Speaker
of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, condemned the act as
barbaric and demanded justice.
The JNI, headed by the Sultan of Sokoto,
Muhammadu Saad Abubakar, in its statement signed by the Secretary
General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, described the killing as criminal
and not Islamic“These ugly incidences utterly stand
condemned and are regarded as criminal and unislamic, perpetrated by
miscreants and criminals” the JNI said.
The group said it was difficult to
believe that such a dastardly act could happen in the name of religion,
considering the various enlightenment programmes on interfaith and
mutual co-existence being put in place by the Muslim scholars and the
leadership.
The JNI also commiserated with the family of the deceased over the unfortunate incident and pray God to grant her eternal rest.
It said: “The Sultan of Sokoto and
President-General, JNI calls on all to remain calm and avoid all actions
that could lead to the breach of law and order.
“The generality of Muslims are also
implored to fervently pray for the restoration of peace and security in
Nigeria bearing in mind that without Nigeria there will be no
Nigerians.”
The CAN in its statement signed by its
spokesman, Rev. Joseph Hayab, dismissed allegations of blasphemy
levelled against the deceased, explaining that information made
available to CAN revealed that those who murdered Bridget went to do
ablution by her shop and she asked them to stop blocking the entrance to
her shop.
According to CAN, “From the information we gathered, Bridget never committed blasphemy as claimed by those who killed her.
“Information reaching us has shown that
one of her killers had been looking for her trouble very often and on
that day he went to her shop and started his ablution right at the
entrance of her shop and she complained and argument ensued.
“The man suddenly started shouting
Allahu Akbar and a mob surrounded her shop and descended on the woman.
Frantic efforts were made to save her life by people who tried to rescue
her but the mob overwhelmed them and we wonder where the police were
when this thing was happening.”
Bridget’s killers had alleged that she blasphemed Prophet Mohammed.
But CAN said it was sad that people
would wake up and kill a fellow human being like an animal, adding that
such a dastard action should not be condoned in any civilised society.
It noted that a similar incident
happened in Kano some years ago when another Igbo trader was beheaded
for the same allegations of blasphemy and said it was not enough for the
Kano State government to announce that one of the killers of Bridget
had been arrested.
The Christian body said: “The government
must ensure that the perpetrators of the evil act are brought to face
justice and this time around, we will closely monitor to ensure that
justice is done.
“We cannot say we are Nigerians and some
people will wake up and kill fellow Nigerians at will in the name of
religion and they are not brought to justice.
“Our religious leaders must come out and preach the true tenets of religion, because this arrogance is getting too much.”
It urged Christians to remain peaceful and law abiding and pray for the progress of the country.
In Abuja, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Hon. Dogara, called on security agencies to ensure the
arrest and prosecution of Bridget’s murderers.
Dogara, according to a statement by his
spokesperson, Mr. Turaki Hassan, yesterday condemned the murder, which
he described as a grievous act of lawlessness and impunity.
“We live in a society governed by
clearly stated rules and laws. When such crimes of high magnitude, or
any at all, are allowed to go unpunished for any reason, we risk
descending into a state of lawlessness and anarchy where anyone can
assume the role of judge, jury and executioner,” he said.
“The rule of law must prevail. I urge
all security agencies to ensure that they carry out a thorough
investigation into the events that led to her untimely death and ensure
that the perpetrators of this crime are made to face the full wrath of
the law,” the Speaker added.
In its reaction, a group known as Aka Ikenga also condemned Bridget’s killing.
The group in a statement signed by its
President, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, stated that the masterminds of this
murder should be charged to court promptly, adding that the act was a
premeditated action under the pretence of religion.
Uwazurike, therefore, called for justice
to prevail, stressing that it would serve as a deterrent to other
murderers planning to carry out a similar attack.
“We demand most strenuously that they
(murderers) be used as an example so that other murders under the cover
of religion would be stopped,” he said.
He commended the state Governor,
Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and the Police Commissioner, Muhammad Katsina,
for their prompt response during the crisis, while expressing shock that
the Emir of the Kano, Mohammed Sanusi II, had not led the fight to stop
the religious bigots.
But speaking on the growing wave of
violence in the country, the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie
Obiano, called for an end to violence nationwide.
He spoke during a special mass to
commence the activities marking this year’s edition of the World
Environment Day at St Patrick’s Cathedral Awka yesterday, and frowned on
the ease with which life was snuffed out of Nigerians at the slightest
pretext in recent times and advised that there was a strong need for
wisdom, calmness, patience and prayers at these times.
“
It is important to reiterate that
nobody should lose his or her life under any circumstance and I condemn
that very act in the strongest terms,” he said.
On the recent face-off between the
police and some youths who filed out to mark the Igbo Day in Nkpor,
Idemili Local Government Area of the state, Obiano reiterated his regret
over the loss of lives and said that as the chief security officer of
the state, his priority was to secure lives and property.
According to him, it was a great idea to
celebrate Igbo Day, but the method adopted by the youths to mark it
ought to be reappraised to avoid unnecessary conflict with the
constituted authority, as that would defeat the aim of the event which
is to draw attention to the developmental challenges of the South-east
zone.
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