by Nonso Isiguzo
I was astonished when I heard the news of one Mrs. Bridget Agbahime, a market woman in Kano who was killed by a mob after she was accused of blaspheming Prophet Mohammed.
Before I proceed, I must extol President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders who have condemned this dastardly act and also shower encomium on Nigerian police for the arrest of two suspects which most of us are yet to see the photograph.
I have seen several suspects who were shown to the public (televise) even before they were charged to court but let me presume that this one is a different case. Worthy of mention also is the efforts of well-meaning individuals who already initiated #JusticeforBridgetAgbahime campaign on the social media platform.
But while we continue to campaign for justice for Bridget Agbahime, let me condole with her husband, Mr. Mike Agbahime and the family members, praying that God would give them the strength to bear the loss.
Ending Religious Crisis in Nigeria – Law Enforcement
Now to the nitty-gritty of this discourse. I think what should best occupy our minds is how best to avert a possible recurrence of such acts of barbarism because Mrs. Bridget Patience’s case was not the first we have seen or heard in recent times.
Going by the information available, the deceased and her husband had gone to report the matter to their landlord who was identified as Mustapha. It was gathered that some policemen were at the scene (Mustapha’s residence) also before the irate mob gathered and started chanting that the woman must die for blaspheming against Prophet Mohammed.
Surprisingly, the mob was said to have overpowered the policemen. What point am I making here?
Some of our security personnel are biased in the discharge of their duties which professionally shouldn’t be; you either see some that attach tribal sentiment or religious sentiment.
Tell me how unarmed civilians, according to reports, overpowered policemen and not even teargas was fired to dispatch them? Is it not a shame that when it comes to students protest or other civil protests, you would find police using live bullets to quell such peaceful processions?
In a bid for me not to deviate from the subject matter, I think our police force needs proper restructuring through training and re-training. The authorities should try and access people’s track record before any recruitment.
Ending Religious Crisis in Nigeria – The Role of Clergy
I don’t think clergymen, especially Muslim clerics, are doing enough to end this because my research indicates that scores of Muslims misconstrue some sections of Quran, although some Christians are not left out.
According to a Lebanese-American artist, poet, and writer of the New York Pen League, Khalil Gibran, “I love you when you bow in your mosque, kneel in your temple, pray in your church. For you and I are sons of one religion, and it is the spirit.”
To me, this is what we should practice not looking for who blasphemed Prophet Mohammed.
Also, I could remember vividly in the aftermath of September 11 when former US President George W. Bush visited the Islamic Center of Washington DC, both to reassure the Muslims in America and to create public awareness against prejudice, he remarked, “The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. That’s not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace.”
Without fear of favor, I will say that the problem is caused by some Muslim clerics who teach their followers things that are not in the Quran because some followers cannot read while those who can read are not able to discern properly. That is why students attend lectures even after purchasing text books because if a lecturer did not tutor you, you might find it difficult to understand it.
So, Muslim clerics should embark on a proper sensitization campaign to highlight on the need why their followers should disabuse their mindset that they must kill to go to heaven or they must kill anyone that talks against Prophet Mohammed.
Ending Religious Crisis in Nigeria – Diligent Prosecution
Finally, I will suggest that follow up investigation and prosecution of this matter should be made public in a bid to serve as a deterrent to others who always believe they can go scot-free due to their religious affiliation or connections.
Nigeria needs to become a country free of religious crisis.
Nonso Isiguzo is a freelance journalist trained in conflict reporting. He recently passed out of the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Program by the British Council. He tweets from @Nepicity. He can also be reached by email HERE.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
