A butcher, Usman Buda, has been killed by an angry mob in Sokoto State over alleged blasphemy.
The incident was confirmed by the Sokoto State Police Command on Sunday.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, the police was contacted at 9:20 am.
He added that Buda, an indigene of Gwandu Local Government Area, a butcher at Sokoto Abattoir, had allegedly blasphemed the Holy Prophet and was, as a result, about to be lynched by a mob.
According to the statement, “Upon receiving the information, the Commissioner of Police, Area Commander Metro, and DPO Kwanni led a team of policemen and all other operational commanders to the scene.”
Upon sighting police operatives, the mob reportedly dispersed, leaving the victim unconscious.
Though rescued and taken to the Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) for treatment, Buda was later confirmed dead.
The police said that an investigation is ongoing to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to book.
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In a different development, at least 100 farmers reportedly suffered losses over the weekend when their farms were invaded by quelea birds in Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
Quelea birds are dangerous parasites capable of wiping out a whole farm within a day or even a few hours.
According to locals, the dangerous birds destroyed about 75,000 hectares of rice farms over the weekend.
The red-billed birds were said to have migrated from the neighbouring Niger Republic.
Kebbi has been the only state affected so far by the menace of quelea birds. However, experts in agriculture are advising farmers in the northwest and northeast to be on the lookout for invading birds.
They, however, suggested that the only way to combat the menace of quelea birds is to conduct research and produce pest repellent that works without causing any damage to crops.