A pastor was among the scores of persons left injured by irate youths who went on the rampage over alleged blasphemy in the Katangan area of Warji Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
The Bauchi State Police Command confirmed that about six houses and seven shops were burnt in the area.
Riot broke out in the area on Friday and continued on Saturday over a message allegedly circulated on social media that a Christian girl in the area engaged in blasphemy while reacting to the killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto State.
Confirming the incident, the State’s Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakili, said the command had commenced investigation into the incident.
The PPRO stated that unspecified number of residents were injured during the incident, but he, however, said no life was lost.
The command’s spokesman said the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Mamman Sanda, had deployed “all Tactical Teams, Mobile Police Force and Rapid Response Squad (RRS) whose joint efforts brought the situation under control.
“The area is calm for now, while visibility Patrols are on going to keep the peace.
He said, “Some irate youths set six (6) houses and seven (7) shops ablaze, while some scores of persons were injured as a result of a blasphemous message posted on a social media by one Rhoda Jatau (female) 40yrs old, a staff of the Medical Department Warji Local Government."
The unrest followed the killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto. She was accused of insulting Islam.
Meanwhile the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Mamman Sanda, has ordered a thorough investigation into the crisis that erupted in Warji Local Government area of Bauchi State.
On 20th May, 2022 at about 1745hrs Some irate youths set six(6) Houses and seven(7) shops ablaze, while some score of persons were injured as a result of a Blasphemous message posted on a social media by one Rhoda Jatau (female) 40yrs old a staff of the Medical Department Warji Local Government.https://www.tvcnews.tv/purplegold/post-new.php#
The Police have since deployed all Tactical Teams, Mobile Police Force and Rapid Response Squad (RRS) whose joint efforts brought the situation under control.
The area is calm for now, while visibility Patrols are on going to keep the peace.
The Commissioner of Police appeal to the general public to be calm and go about their lawful business without any fear of intimidation as normalcy has been restored in the affected area.https://www.tvcnews.tv/purplegold/post-new.php#
While assuring the general public’s that the Police is on top of the situation and will continue to update the Public as to the level of investigation from time to time. The Command would like to use this medium to reiterate the need for parents and guardians to maintain strict vigilance over the activities of their wards, particularly youths.
The Commissioner of Police, CP, also urged Religious Leaders, Community Leaders and Elders generally to always speak to youths to desist from anything that could temper with the security of their areas.
This protest is coming two weeks after the gruesome murder of Deborah Emmanuel a Student of the Sheu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto over alleged Blasphemy against Prophet Muhammed (SAW).
She was beaten to death by a mob of students who later burnt her corpse and later owned up to doing it.
Two of the Culprits have since been arrested while the alleged major perpetrators of the crime have since been declared wanted.
The Sheu Shagari College of Education has also been closed until further notice.
A violent protests has also followed the arrest of the perpetrators.