Kano killings: Extremists storm governor's Facebook page, vow to kill again
Despite widespread condemnation of the murder of an Igbo woman in Kano for alleged blasphemy, some residents of the state, on Governor Abdullahi Ganduje's official Facebook page, expressed their readiness to kill anyone who insult the Prophet Mohammed.
On June 2, an Igbo woman, Mrs. Bridget Agbahime, 74, was killed after she refused to allow a Muslim man perform ablution in front of her shop.
A comment posted by one Ali Idris stated, 'It's a shame, we'll never tolerate such acts; be warned. Allah ya jikan musulman da iyamure suka kashe a onitsha, aba da sausansu satinnan a bikin Biafra's day.' Also commenting on the post, one Ahmad Abdullahi Ibrahim said, 'Innaalillahi, we Muslims are lost, the government says 'Innocent lady'. Does that mean she did not blaspheme our noble prophet? Indirectly you're insulting your people.
'Did the government, including the so-called Muslim scholars, take any serious decision when Muslims (were) burnt and killed in the South just because they were Muslims? I am not saying taking the law into your own hands is right, but, you need to be wise enough. Allah ya sawwake.'
Another person, Usman Lawn Tanko, commented that anyone who blasphemed the prophet would be dealt with.
He said, 'Muslim (Islam) is a religion of peace but we will not tolerate such kind of stupidity to our noble prophet. I swear without any exception anybody who did (sic) it again or try to will expect the same consequence or above that. Be careful.'
One Abazarri Lawan Imran pointed out that the people who assaulted and eventually killed the Igbo woman should be commended.
'If it is true (that) she abused our lovely prophet, I really appreciate the decision by the youth. We know the government and its people would not support as it shown in the issue of Adul Inyas. When government can't defend our religion we shall (n)ever support or defend that government, whether state or federal. I love you Muhammad (SAW) more than myself and even my parents,' Imran said.
While the commentators praised the killing, they also criticised the governor, saying they would vote him out come 2019.
'We also condemn Governor Ganduje. We are just waiting for 2019,' one Nuhu Suleiman posted on the governor's Facebook wall.
Another contributor on the issue, Muhammad Usman, said, 'I am sure they (the perpetrators of the violence) did the best they could do. May Allah reward them with jannatul firdaus.'
Concerning Ganduje, one Bashir Umar Musa wrote, 'Stupid governor.'
Reacting to comments by those who supported the killing of the Igbo woman, one Echezona Iloegbunam said, 'I can't imagine the comments from this post. How come mere mortals are fighting for Prophet Muhammad, the so-called prophet of God?'
One Sani Ahmad shot back, 'Echezona, or whatever you call yourself, God's vengeance is certainly above what they did to this woman. It is a show of love for their prophet and any person who did what she did would get the same reward. So be careful.'
Recalling events on that fateful day, an eyewitness to Agbahime's murder, Iruka Okoro, who is a member of the Igbo Community Association in Kano, stated that shortly after an argument ensued because of Agbahime's refusal, some irate youths armed with dangerous weapons attacked her, stabbing her several times and eventually slitting her throat.
'The murder of Agbahime was a big slap on the Igbo Community Association. I do not see any reason why somebody's refusal to allow a fellow trader perform ablution in front of her shop should lead to her murder.
'Her assailants killed her for telling a co-trader to go to his shop and wash his legs before prayers. Some irate youths sliced her throat like a cow,' Okoro said.
He noted that the owner of the premises, where they both had their stalls, had on more than one occasion intervened in the dispute between the 74-year-old and her co-trader.
'The landlord instructed the male co-trader to confine himself to his side of the market, as well as perform his ablution there,' Okoro stated.
As if the killing was not enough, it was learnt that some Muslim youths stormed the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital mortuary at about 2am on Friday, demanding for the head of the murdered woman, but their request was turned down by the guards at the hospital. - Punch.