The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has condemned the murder of a woman who allegedly blasphemed Islam’s Prophet Muhammed.
Bridget Agbawe, an Igbo trader, was beheaded on Thursday at Kofar Wambai market, Kano, by an irate mob.
On Saturday, Nigeria police spokesperson, Kolawole Olabisi, said in a statement that two key suspects – Dauda Ahmed and Subeiru Abubakar – had been arrested and would be speedily prosecuted.
“In order to ensure a diligent and professional investigation, the Inspector General of Police has directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in- charge of the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID) to deploy the Homicide Section of the Department to immediately take over the investigation of the case and ensure a meticulous investigation and speedy prosecution of the arrested suspects,” Mrs. Olabisi added.
But MURIC, in a statement on Sunday by its Director, Ishaq Akintola, said the police’ action was not enough.
“As we sum up, we recall that there are reports that the police have arrested two suspects, it said.
“We dare say this is not good enough. Two people cannot publicly hold a woman down and cut off her head. Available evidence point at the participation of a large number of people.
“The presidency has also shown interest. Heads must roll on this if we must make it a deterrent. We therefore urge the police to dig deeper in order to prevent future carnage. Enough is enough.”
The Islamic group described the murder as “preposterous, barbaric and unIslamic.”
It said Islam frowns upon mob action and there are laid down procedures for apprehending anyone who breaks the law.
“Even where blasphemy is committed, the woman should have been taken to the police station instead of being brutally attacked. There is no jungle justice in Islam.
“We charge the Nigerian Police to get to the root of the matter and deal with the culprits according to the law. Nobody has the right to take to take the law into his hands. We will not stand akimbo while some misled Muslims smear the name of Islam,” the group said.
Citing Quranic injunctions against jungle justice, it said, “Qur’an chapter 4 verse 59 commands Muslims to obey those in position of authority and, by inference, the laws of the land. There must be decorum in social interface. Anybody can fall victim of mob action if we continue like this. Any false claim can be made against a perceived enemy and a wild mob will descend on an innocent person or persons before you can say Jack Robinson.”
The group said that the victim was a woman made the crime more heinous.
“The fact that the victim is a woman makes it more Bohemian, more anti-social and most unacceptable by Islamic standards. Islam teaches respect for the women folk. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said the noblest of men are those who honour women.
“In addition, the fact that the Glorious Qur’an prohibits the killing of an innocent soul (Qur’an 6:151 and this poor woman must be deemed innocent until proved otherwise by a competent court of law) is enough to denounce the perpetrators of this heinous crime.”
It appealed to the federal government, religious leaders and traditional rulers across Nigeria to enlighten citizens particularly on religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Bridget Agbawe, an Igbo trader, was beheaded on Thursday at Kofar Wambai market, Kano, by an irate mob.
On Saturday, Nigeria police spokesperson, Kolawole Olabisi, said in a statement that two key suspects – Dauda Ahmed and Subeiru Abubakar – had been arrested and would be speedily prosecuted.
“In order to ensure a diligent and professional investigation, the Inspector General of Police has directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in- charge of the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID) to deploy the Homicide Section of the Department to immediately take over the investigation of the case and ensure a meticulous investigation and speedy prosecution of the arrested suspects,” Mrs. Olabisi added.
But MURIC, in a statement on Sunday by its Director, Ishaq Akintola, said the police’ action was not enough.
“As we sum up, we recall that there are reports that the police have arrested two suspects, it said.
“We dare say this is not good enough. Two people cannot publicly hold a woman down and cut off her head. Available evidence point at the participation of a large number of people.
“The presidency has also shown interest. Heads must roll on this if we must make it a deterrent. We therefore urge the police to dig deeper in order to prevent future carnage. Enough is enough.”
It said Islam frowns upon mob action and there are laid down procedures for apprehending anyone who breaks the law.
“Even where blasphemy is committed, the woman should have been taken to the police station instead of being brutally attacked. There is no jungle justice in Islam.
“We charge the Nigerian Police to get to the root of the matter and deal with the culprits according to the law. Nobody has the right to take to take the law into his hands. We will not stand akimbo while some misled Muslims smear the name of Islam,” the group said.
Citing Quranic injunctions against jungle justice, it said, “Qur’an chapter 4 verse 59 commands Muslims to obey those in position of authority and, by inference, the laws of the land. There must be decorum in social interface. Anybody can fall victim of mob action if we continue like this. Any false claim can be made against a perceived enemy and a wild mob will descend on an innocent person or persons before you can say Jack Robinson.”
The group said that the victim was a woman made the crime more heinous.
“The fact that the victim is a woman makes it more Bohemian, more anti-social and most unacceptable by Islamic standards. Islam teaches respect for the women folk. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said the noblest of men are those who honour women.
“In addition, the fact that the Glorious Qur’an prohibits the killing of an innocent soul (Qur’an 6:151 and this poor woman must be deemed innocent until proved otherwise by a competent court of law) is enough to denounce the perpetrators of this heinous crime.”
It appealed to the federal government, religious leaders and traditional rulers across Nigeria to enlighten citizens particularly on religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
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