Irate youths backed by leaders in Sade community in the Darazo Local Government Area of Bauchi State have burnt a man identified as Talle Mai Ruwa, to death for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad.
It was learnt that Mai Ruwa was dragged away from his house on Tuesday in the presence of his mother and burnt to death in the middle of the community.
Eyewitnesses shared gory pictures of the incident, which showed the middle-aged man covered with tyres and set on fire.
The witnesses stated further that the youths contributed money to buy petrol to set Mai Ruwa ablaze.
“The young man was killed by a mob in Sade town for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad. He was dragged from his house by a mob and forcibly set ablaze after being tied to an old car tyre.
“The village youths donated money to buy the petrol that was used to burn and kill Talle Mai Ruwa,” a resident narrated.
Another source said that some youths had earlier dragged the deceased before Islamic clerics where he was asked questions.
After the questioning session, the clerics reportedly told the crowd that Talle Mai Ruwa deserved to be killed.
“The mum stood and watched while fire consumed Talle Mai Ruwa until he was reduced to ashes,” he lamented.
Some residents of the town said that Talle Mai Ruwa had been going through unspecified type of mental illness.
This is not the first time that people in northern Nigeria would be passing a death sentence on someone for alleged blasphemy.
In August 2020, a musician in Kano was sentenced to death by hanging for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad.
An upper Sharia court said Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, 22, was guilty of committing blasphemy in a song he circulated via WhatsApp in March.
Mr Sharif-Aminu did not deny the charges.
Judge Khadi Aliyu Muhammad Kani said he could appeal against the verdict.
Also in September 2020, the United Nations Children’s Fund condemned the sentencing of a 13-year-old for blasphemy.
Peter Hawkins, the UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, described as wrong the sentencing of Omar Farouk to 10 years in prison.
Sharia law court found Farouk guilty of using “disparaging language against Allah” while arguing with a friend.
Farouk is among many others who have been tried under Sharia law.
