Blasphemy: Police Arraign 5 Suspects Over Alleged Killing Of Woman

Amid tight security, the Kano State Police Command yesterday arraigned five persons suspected to be the masterminds of last week’s killing of a female trader, Bridget Agbahime, on allegation of blasphemy. Those arraigned on a four-count charge by the police include, Dauda Ahmad, Abdullahi Mustapha, Zubairu Abubakar, Abdullahi Abubakar and Musa Abdullahi. The arraignment at Magistrate court 20, which attracted heavily armed police, lawyers and working journalists, bordered on culpable homicide and mischief. During yesterday’s proceedings, the prosecutor, Dauda Jibrin, said the prime suspect identified simply as Ahmad attacked the deceased before escalating the matter

that led to Bridget Agbahime being clubbed to death. The prosecutor explained that when Ahmad shouted Allahu Akbar, Abdullahi Mustapha, Zubairu Abubakar joined him, while others at large, including Salawiyu, Ibrahim, Dini, Isiyaku Mada, Mallam Sani and Yunusa Sufi, also accompanied them to Mrs. Bridget Agbahime’s shop located on the first floor, where she was beaten with sticks causing serious injuries that led to her death. However, two of the suspects pleaded not guilty to the four charges, while Abdullahi Mustapha and Zubairu Abubakar said they were not part of those who carried out the attack. Also, the police First Information Report, FIR, reads out to all the accused persons reads “ that you Dauda Ahmad “M” of Goron Dutse quarters, Kano, on the 2nd day of June, 2016 at about 1630hrs, at Kofar Wambai market Kano while having misunderstanding with Mrs Briget Mike Agbaheme, held her hand and slapped her on the face and with intent to cause breach of public peace and causing death, false raised alarm wherein you shouted “ALLAHU AKBAR” and falsely accused one Mrs Briget Mike Agbaheme “F” of blaspheming the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). In the report, the accused persons were informed that “your false alarm led to breach of public peace and death of Mrs Agbahime”. The suspects were also accused of using “dangerous weapons to hit her head which caused serious injuries that subsequently led to her death.” All the five accused persons pleaded not guilty to charges against them. But the police prosecutor, Usman Jibril pleaded the court to adjourn the case to enable them complete investigation. Subsequently, the presiding Magistrate, Muhammad Jibrin, adjourned the case to June 28, as he further directed that the suspects should be remanded in prison. Nigerian Pilot Saturday recalls that Bridget was recently killed by religious fanatics at Kofar Wambai Market, Kano, after she allegedly told Muslims not to perform abolition in her area. According to the police, the deceased was accused of blaspheming Prophet Mohammed. Source: Nigerian Pilot