Arrest Of Two Suspects In Kano Killing Not Enough – MURIC

BlasphemyThe Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has condemned in strong terms, the murder of a woman by an irate mob, who accused her of blasphemy against Prophet Mohammed (SAW).
The victim, Bridget Agbahime, an Igbo trader at the popular Kofar Wambai market in Kano State, was reportedly beheaded in the presence of her husband, Pastor Mike Agbahime, for allegedly refusing to allow some Muslims perform ablution in front of her shop last Thursday.
The Force Headquarters, in a statement by its spokesperson, ACP Olabisi Kolawole said two suspects – Dauda Ahmed and Subeiru Abubakar – have been arrested in connection with the heinous crime.
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”, MURIC fumed.
The Islamic group described the murder of Mrs. Agbahime as “preposterous, barbaric and unIslamic”, noting that 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 fact that the victim was a woman, MURIC said, 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”.
MURIC appealed to the federal government, religious leaders and traditional rulers across Nigeria to enlighten citizens particularly on religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.