Katsina police hunt residents for burning neighbour’s house, and car due to suspected blasphemy

Aliyu Musa, the Commissioner of Police for Katsina State, announced on Thursday, 1st February 2024 that investigators had started looking for the person(s) who set fire to Mani Abubakar’s home and vehicle on Tuesday, 31st January 2024 night due to accusations of blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammed.

The residence is situated in Katsina State’s Sabon Garin Alhaji Yahuza Village, which is part of the Batagarawa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

It was discovered that at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, 31st January 2024, protesters set fire to Abubakar’s car and home because they believed he had blasphemed the Prophet Mohammed in comments posted on a Facebook page.

According to the leadership, its agents in the council stepped in that evening to ease community tensions.

According to a statement released by the command on Thursday, 1st February 2024, to defuse future tensions in the State and community, the State Police Commissioner met at police headquarters on Thursday with representatives from various state stakeholders, including opinion and religious groups.

The command disclosed that its agents had initiated a manhunt to find the individuals responsible for setting Abubakar’s residence and vehicle on fire.

The incident was reported in part in the following statement, which was signed by ASP Abubakar Aliyu, the command’s spokesman: “On January 30, 2024, about 8.15 pm, a distress call was received at the Batagarawa Divisional Police Headquarters on an ongoing protest at Sabon Garin Alhaji Yahuza Village, Batagarawa Local Government Area, over an alleged, “blasphemy” by one Mani Habu Abubakar, alias Sadi, of the same address, via a Facebook post

The angry mob set his house and car on fire, but he and his family managed to flee unharmed.

“Officers were mobilized and dispatched to the scene as soon as they received the report, effectively reducing the likelihood of additional damage and tense situations.”

It was discovered that the State Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Ishaq Shehu, the Commissioner of Police, Traditional and Religious Leaders, and other pertinent State Stakeholders were present at the meeting on Thursday, 1st February 2024.

In addition to urging the public to uphold the law and refrain from breaking it, the Police Commissioner begged the parties involved to urge their supporters to embrace peace and serve as peace ambassadors at all levels.

In addition, the Police Commissioner “reiterated that the command remains committed to maintaining peace, law, and order while guaranteeing the safety of the citizens of Katsina State and assured them that detectives are actively pursuing various leads to identify and apprehend the culprit(s) behind the dastardly act.”

Additionally, Muyiwa Segun, the Vice chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Katsina, disclosed that the State’s Commissioner of Police had taken proactive steps to restore relative quiet.

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