Nigeria
An angry mob has killed eight people after setting fire to a house in northern Nigeria belonging to a man who tried rescuing a Christian student accused of blasphemy.
The Zamfara police spokesman, Shehu Mohammed, confirmed the incident which took place on Monday in a town called Talata Mafara.
He explained that Muslim students from the village protested against a colleague who they accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad.
The accused was protected by a Muslim man who escorted the student to the police station. This act incurred the wrath of the mob who set fire to the Muslim man’s house killing eight of its occupants.
“The man who saved the student and his wife are not among the victims,” Shehu Mohammed added.
Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari has described the act as barbaric and unacceptable, assuring that the law will take its course.
I received news of the mob killings in Zamfara with great dismay. It is barbaric & unacceptable. I assure that the law will take its course
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) August 23, 2016
“Under my watch we will work to ensure that there is no place for violence in the name of religion, ethnicity, or in any guise whatsoever,” he added.
Under my watch we will work to ensure that there is no place for violence in the name of religion, ethnicity, or in any guise whatsoever.
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) August 23, 2016
A dawn to sunset curfew has since been imposed in the town, while the technical school of the students has been closed.
01:47
Environmental Volunteering: Activists gather in Lagos ahead of World Earth Day
00:39
Nigerian chess master plays for 60 hours in bid to set new world record
01:28
Nigeria's crude oil output goes down again in March - OPEC
01:05
A Nigerian chess champion is trying to break the world record for the longest chess marathon
01:02
Pics of the day: April 15, 2024
02:46
Nigeria: chibok abduction anniversary spurs demands for justice