The Sokoto state police command has confirmed the murder of a butcher identified as Usman Buda religious fanatics.
According to Daily Post, the victim was accused of allegedly making derogatory remarks about the Holy Prophet during a dispute with another vendor.
In a statement issued by the Public Relation Officer of the Command, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, it was also reported that the event occurred at 8 a.m. on Sunday at the Sokoto major abattoir.
The command stated that, a distress call was received at about 09: 20am that one Usman Buda ‘M’ of Gwandu local government area, a Butcher at Sokoto Abattoir allegedly blasphemed the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as a result he was mobbed and attacked.
“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.
“On arrival, the mob escaped the scene and left the victim unconscious where he was rescued and taken to Usmanu Danfodio Teaching Hospital Sokoto for treatment and was later Confirmed dead,”
“Meanwhile, Investigation is on to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to book,” it concluded.
Also an eyewitness who pleaded anonymity stated that the leaders made attempt to save the victim from being killed.
“Our leaders made a fruitless attempt to save him but they could not contain the crowd. They initially rescued him and hid him before they were overpowered.”
“He was beaten to death by his fellow butchers. His corpse was later taken away by the police,” the witness said.
Another account said his closest business partners also attempted to rescue him but,”Some of them sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the hospital.”
According to a security operator who confirmed the occurrence on the condition of anonymity, the suspect was originally from Tambuwal local government area but was now residing in Sokoto North local government area at Gidan Igwe.
He was selling cow guts at the Kasuwan Dankure Fish and Vegetable Market in Sokoto.
A neighbour of the suspect who simply identified himself as Malam Yusuf described his death as painful.
“Usman is my immediate neighbour. He is very religious, in fact, he belonged to Izala sect. We prayed and attended Tafsir together at Primary board quarters. There is no way he could make such a statement against the Holy Prophet.”
“There must be a reason behind his murder. Because he is very popular in his business of selling cow entrails and was envied by many of his colleagues,” he said.