Tragedy struck on Saturday evening in Kasuwan-Garba, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State, when a woman identified simply as Amaye was lynched and set ablaze by an irate mob over alleged blasphemous remarks against Prophet Muhammad.
The deceased, a food vendor in the community, was said to have made the alleged statement while attending to customers at her restaurant. Trouble reportedly began when a patron jokingly expressed interest in marrying her, making reference to the tradition of the Prophet.
Sources told The Nation that the matter quickly degenerated, with some residents whisking the woman to the palace of the District Head of Kasuwan-Garba in a bid to forestall violence. The monarch, it was gathered, handed her over to security operatives for investigation.
However, before the operatives could take her to safety, the mob overwhelmed them and descended on the woman. She was lynched on the spot and subsequently set ablaze.
Chairman of Mariga Local Government Area, Abbas Adamu Kasuwan-Garba, confirmed the incident, saying normalcy had since been restored in the town.
Spokesman of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, also corroborated the development. He disclosed that the victim “was set ablaze before the reinforcement of the security teams.”
Abiodun assured that investigations were ongoing and that “efforts are being made to ensure arrests are effected, investigated and prosecuted.”
The incident has left residents of Kasuwan-Garba in shock, rekindling concerns over mob justice and the volatile nature of blasphemy-related allegations in parts of the North.
