Abuja, Nigeria — A woman accused of blasphemy was killed by a mob in Niger State, northern Nigeria, over the weekend, police confirmed on Sunday. The victim, identified by local media as a food vendor named Amaye, was reportedly set ablaze following a dispute in the town of Kasuwan-Garba.
According to police, the incident began when a man allegedly made a light-hearted marriage proposal to the vendor. Her response was deemed blasphemous by some individuals nearby, sparking a violent reaction.
“Unfortunately, it led to a mob attack, and the victim was set ablaze before a reinforcement of security teams could arrive at the scene,” said Wasiu Abiodun, spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command.
Authorities have condemned the killing, describing it as an act of “jungle justice.” An investigation is currently underway to identify and prosecute those responsible. Police have also appealed for calm, urging the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
Mob violence linked to allegations of blasphemy has been a recurring issue in parts of northern Nigeria, where Islamic (Sharia) law operates alongside the country’s secular legal system in 12 predominantly Muslim states. Blasphemy is considered a criminal offence under Sharia law.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have raised concerns about the misuse of blasphemy allegations. The group stated that such accusations are often “weaponised to settle personal scores,” and warned that they frequently lead to extrajudicial killings.
“A minor disagreement or argument, often deliberately orchestrated, can escalate into mob violence,” Amnesty said in a recent statement. “The accused are often lynched before any legal process can begin.”
The killing in Kasuwan-Garba follows a series of similar incidents in recent years. In 2022, Deborah Samuel, a university student in Sokoto State, was beaten and burned alive after being accused of making blasphemous remarks. In 2023, a butcher named Usman Buda was stoned to death in the same state under similar circumstances.
While Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of speech and religion, the country remains sharply divided over issues of faith, justice, and the rule of law. The Supreme Court has previously ruled that blasphemy allegations must be tried in a court of law, not adjudicated through mob violence.
