Mob Burns Woman to Death Over Blasphemy Allegation

A woman has been burnt to death by an angry mob in Kasuwan-Garba town, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State, after being accused of making blasphemous remarks against Prophet Muhammad.

The victim, a Muslim, identified as a food vendor and restaurant owner named Amaye, was attacked on Saturday following an altercation with a customer in her establishment. According to reports, the incident began after the customer jokingly proposed marriage to her, citing the tradition of the Prophet. Her response was allegedly considered offensive to the Islamic faith by some members of the community.

Residents said the woman was initially taken to the palace of the District Head of Kasuwan-Garba, who then handed her over to local vigilantes  for investigation. However, the mob overpowered the security personnel, lynched the woman, and set her ablaze.

Confirming the incident, Niger State Police Command spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said the attack occurred on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at about 2:00 pm.

“Unfortunately, it led to a mob attack, and the woman was set ablaze before security reinforcement could arrive at the scene,” Abiodun stated in a press release issued in Minna.

He described the killing as “jungle justice” and strongly condemned the act, assuring that efforts are ongoing to identify, arrest, and prosecute all those involved.

The police spokesman appealed to residents to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands, stressing that sensitive matters should be handled by security agencies in line with legal provisions.

The incident has sparked outrage among human rights advocates, who warned that the recurring trend of mob justice poses a grave threat to law and order in the country.

Blasphemy is considered a criminal offence under Islamic (Sharia) law in 12 Northern states, where it operates alongside Nigeria’s secular legal system. However, the country’s Supreme Court has ruled that such allegations must first be proven in a court of law.

Despite this, extrajudicial killings over alleged blasphemy remain rife in Northern Nigeria. In 2022, Deborah Samuel, a student in Sokoto State, was beaten and set ablaze over alleged blasphemous comments. Last year, a butcher named Usman Buda was stoned to death under similar circumstances in the same state.

Critics argue that authorities have failed to enforce the rule of law and advocate to prevent such killings, which have claimed both Muslim and Christian victims, despite constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression.