Usman Buda was killed for arguing in favour of another suspected blasphemer, Sheik Abdul’azeez Bauchi
By Ishaya Ibrahim
Sunday’s murder of a butcher in Sokoto over an alleged blasphemous comment against Prophet Mohammed makes it the second public lynching in the state in one year.
Last year May, a student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Deborah Samuel, was stoned to death by her colleagues over a comment they claimed was blasphemous against Prophet Mohammed.
Yesterday, a butcher was convicted by a mob over a similar offence. And like Deborah, he was also stoned to death by his colleagues.
A veterinary doctor who witnessed the incident, said the butcher identified as Usman Buda was killed by some of his colleagues that engaged him in a theological debate.
The veterinary doctor gave an account of what transpired in viral audio in Hausa. He said: “I was his customer for over four years. He was selling cow entrails by the gate of Dankure market. The first time I met him was during my routine visit to the market to inspect the hygienic conditions of meat on sale before human consumption.
“On the day he was killed, he got into an argument with some people before he was gruesomely murdered by mob action.
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“ I recall that he was a devoted member of the ‘Allissunna’ sect so you know that given his knowledge he couldn’t have blasphemed the prophet as his killers would want us to believe.
“They were arguing about the allegation of blasphemy levelled against Sheik Abdul’azeez Bauchi. He attempted to explain that the Sheik was right to have held that it is not proper to entreat somebody to do something in the name of the prophet. He said doing that was like associating or equating the prophet with God.
“While they were arguing, another person joined them and the person said it was proper to entreat in the name of God, the prophet and even Usmanu Danfodiyo’s name. The person then declared that God permitted us to spill his blood for anyone who felt otherwise.
“In the twinkling of an eye, the miscreants gathered around, chanting, ‘Give him the devil’s treatment.’ Then they began stoning him. He was taken into protective custody by the manager of the market who invited three policemen.
“The police officers had no firearms. Unfortunately, the mob overpowered the police and stoned him to death.”
Recall that an Islamic cleric, Imam Dr Idris Abdul’aziz of Dutsen Tanshi Jummaat mosque, also known as Sheikh Aldul’aziz Bauchi was arraigned but granted bail on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, for alleged “public disturbance and inciting public unrest.”
The Sheikh got into trouble when an Islamic organisation led by Fitiyanul Isla accused the cleric of making of hate speeches against prominent clerics in the state and Prophet Muhammad.