Blasphemy: CAN insists on open trial of Bridget's killers
Mon Jun 06, 2016 11:49:am National
2.7K By sosa hills
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and Abuja has warned against any attempt to secretly try the killers of a 74-year-old woman, Madam Bridget Agbahime.
She was killed last Thursday by some youths at Kofar Wambai Market in Kano over alleged blasphemy of Prophet Mohammed.
The association said the trial must be done openly and the perpetrators punished accordingly.
It will be recalled that Madam Agbahime was killed last Thursday at Kano market by a mob in the presence of her husband over a false alarm of blasphemy.
Addressing journalists in Kaduna on Sunday, the spokesman of the Northern CAN, Rev. John Joseph Hayab wondered why the police, who claimed to have saved the husband of the deceased from the mob, could not rescue her or arrest the killers at the scene of the crime.
Hayab expressed shock at the dastardly act, wondering how people could kill a fellow human being just because they were angry with the individual.
He said: "So, if your enemy is angry with you, the best thing to do is to raise a false alarm using religion as a cover to kill you."
CAN continued: "Our religious leaders must come out and preach the true tenets of their religion because this arrogance is getting too much."
It appealed to the Kano State government to make policies aimed at stopping "this type of extremism," adding that "these types of issues are giving the state a bad name and image."
"The Kano State government has to ensure that the trial of the man that raised the false alarm and his cohorts is not done in secret in order to serve as deterrent to others," he said.
The association appealed to Christians to be law abiding and offer persistent prayers for the unity of the country.
Sultan, Dogara decry murder
Meanwhile, Jama'atu Nasril Islam (JNI) led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, has condemned the murder of Madam Agbahime.
JNI's Secretary-General, Khalid Aliyu, in a statement he issued on Sunday, condemned a similar attack in Pandogari, Rafi Local Government Council of Niger State where four lives were lost.
The group said: "These ugly incidents utterly stand condemned and are regarded as criminal and un Islamic, perpetrated by miscreants and criminals."
JNI's statement read in part:
"With pains and sobriety, Jama'atu Nasril Islam received with shock the most unfortunate alleged blasphemy of the Prophet (SAW) by one Mrs. Bridget Agbahime that was reported to have happened in Wambai Area of Kano, Kano State and another one that claimed four lives in Pandogari, Rafi Local Government Council of Niger State. These ugly incidents utterly stand condemned and are regarded as criminal and un-Islamic, perpetrated by miscreants and criminals.
"It is hardly believable that such dastardly acts could happen in the name of religion, considering the various enlightenment programmes on interfaith and mutual co-existence being put in place by the Muslim scholars and the leadership.
"In the light of the above, we commend the various untiring efforts of the Kano and Niger State governments and also the respective states' Ulama in nipping in the bud, the unfortunate crises that would have engulfed both states. Likewise, the proactive measures of all the security agencies are also commendable and we implore that same be sustained.
"We equally commiserate with Mr. Agbahime of Deeper Life Bible Church in Kano, over the death of his wife, Mrs. Bridget Agbahime as a result of injuries she sustained due to the mob action meted against her by the hoodlums. "Similarly, the husband is commended for swiftly setting the record straight against all odds, by stating that his wife was not beheaded as reported by the media.
She was killed last Thursday by some youths at Kofar Wambai Market in Kano over alleged blasphemy of Prophet Mohammed.
The association said the trial must be done openly and the perpetrators punished accordingly.
It will be recalled that Madam Agbahime was killed last Thursday at Kano market by a mob in the presence of her husband over a false alarm of blasphemy.
Addressing journalists in Kaduna on Sunday, the spokesman of the Northern CAN, Rev. John Joseph Hayab wondered why the police, who claimed to have saved the husband of the deceased from the mob, could not rescue her or arrest the killers at the scene of the crime.
Hayab expressed shock at the dastardly act, wondering how people could kill a fellow human being just because they were angry with the individual.
He said: "So, if your enemy is angry with you, the best thing to do is to raise a false alarm using religion as a cover to kill you."
CAN continued: "Our religious leaders must come out and preach the true tenets of their religion because this arrogance is getting too much."
It appealed to the Kano State government to make policies aimed at stopping "this type of extremism," adding that "these types of issues are giving the state a bad name and image."
"The Kano State government has to ensure that the trial of the man that raised the false alarm and his cohorts is not done in secret in order to serve as deterrent to others," he said.
The association appealed to Christians to be law abiding and offer persistent prayers for the unity of the country.
Sultan, Dogara decry murder
Meanwhile, Jama'atu Nasril Islam (JNI) led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, has condemned the murder of Madam Agbahime.
JNI's Secretary-General, Khalid Aliyu, in a statement he issued on Sunday, condemned a similar attack in Pandogari, Rafi Local Government Council of Niger State where four lives were lost.
The group said: "These ugly incidents utterly stand condemned and are regarded as criminal and un Islamic, perpetrated by miscreants and criminals."
JNI's statement read in part:
"With pains and sobriety, Jama'atu Nasril Islam received with shock the most unfortunate alleged blasphemy of the Prophet (SAW) by one Mrs. Bridget Agbahime that was reported to have happened in Wambai Area of Kano, Kano State and another one that claimed four lives in Pandogari, Rafi Local Government Council of Niger State. These ugly incidents utterly stand condemned and are regarded as criminal and un-Islamic, perpetrated by miscreants and criminals.
"It is hardly believable that such dastardly acts could happen in the name of religion, considering the various enlightenment programmes on interfaith and mutual co-existence being put in place by the Muslim scholars and the leadership.
"In the light of the above, we commend the various untiring efforts of the Kano and Niger State governments and also the respective states' Ulama in nipping in the bud, the unfortunate crises that would have engulfed both states. Likewise, the proactive measures of all the security agencies are also commendable and we implore that same be sustained.
"We equally commiserate with Mr. Agbahime of Deeper Life Bible Church in Kano, over the death of his wife, Mrs. Bridget Agbahime as a result of injuries she sustained due to the mob action meted against her by the hoodlums. "Similarly, the husband is commended for swiftly setting the record straight against all odds, by stating that his wife was not beheaded as reported by the media.
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