It breaks my heart to tell you this, but the lynching of young Deborah Samuel in Sokoto is not the end of mob killing for blasphemy. Another case of blasphemy killing made the news, again.
On June 25, 2023, a local butcher, Usman Buda, met a sad and violent mob death in a Sokoto metropolis abattoir. Here’s how it happened.
The Murder of Usman Buda
Buda, according to eyewitnesses, made blasphemous statements against the Prophet Muhammad, and some young men challenged him to withdraw his statement. He refused.
It was at this point that a mob gathered and beat Buda to the point of unconsciousness.
The Sokoto State Police Command intervened, causing the mob to flee, with Buda being rescued and rushed to Usmanu Danfodiyo Teaching Hospital in Sokoto for treatment.
Sokoto Police Command arrive at the scene [Premium Times]
Unfortunately, Buda didn’t survive his injuries. He was later confirmed dead by medical personnel.
But does the law say anything against blasphemy?
Let’s just say the law here is a bit…tricky. Especially when it comes to Northern Nigeria.
To understand this, we must first note that Nigeria operates two legal systems: common law and customary law. What is customary law depends on if you’re in the South or North (Shariah).
Because of this, some activities are treated as crimes under Northern Nigeria’s penal code that are not under the South’s criminal code.
The penal code (Sharia law) applies in the north, where there is a Muslim majority. The criminal code applies in the southern part of the country, where there is a Christian majority.
The Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal
When it comes to the issue of blasphemy, only Kaduna State approves of the death penalty for convicted offenders. This can be found under Section 406 of the Penal Code. Nowhere in Sharia Law does it approve of the masses taking life and death into their own hands via extrajudicial killings.
An excerpt of Section 406 of the Sharia Penal Code, with footnote 631 [Sharia in Africa.net]
However, this doesn’t mean that ‘blasphemers’ or people who ridicule the Islam religion get a jail-free card.
If you are convicted of the act under Section 402 of Sharia law, the offender will get either a two year imprisonment sentence, a fine of N20,000 or both. This also comes with a non-negotiable thirty lashes of the cane.
An excerpt of Section 402 of the Sharia Penal Code, with footnote 626 [Sharia in Africa.net]
What will happen next with this case?
The Sokoto State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, reassured the public that the investigation is still on to bring the mob to justice.
But the Sokoto State governor, Ahmed Aliyu, sees Buda’s death in a different light. Through a statement by his spokesperson, Abubakar Bawa, he vowed that “his present administration will not take the issue of blasphemy lightly.”
Ahmed Aliyu [Premium Times]
He also promised that “he will deal decisively with anyone found guilty of any act aimed at degrading the personality of Prophet Muhammad… in line with the provisions of Islamic laws.”
