No fewer than eight persons were killed on Monday in Talata-Mafara community in Zamfara State after violence erupted over alleged blasphemy against Islam by a student of Abdu Gusau Polytechnic, Talata-Mafara.
Governor Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari joined hundreds of people to bury the deceased who were killed when an angry mob set fire on the house of a man who tried to rescue the student.
The student was alleged to have made a blasphemous statement against Islam and Prophet Muhammad and was consequently attacked by a mob.
The boy was said to have been beaten to pulp by the mob. The man, whose name was simply given as Tajudeen, took him in his car and rushed him to a hospital.
A witness said the mob, angered by Tajudeen’s act, moved to his house, set it on fire and killed eight persons.
The governor, who called for an emergency Security Council meeting over the incident, expressed sadness and vowed that “no stone will be left unturned until all those behind this act are brought to book”.
The police have imposed a 12-hour curfew in the community, from 7p.m. to 7a.m. daily until further notice, with warning that anyone caught violating the order would be prosecuted.
NAN