Thousands of Muslims, yesterday, stormed the Kano State Government House and the palace of the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II to protest the alleged blasphemy of Prophet Mohammed by a Tijjaniyya preacher, Abdul Nyass.
The cudgel carrying youths, who are mainly members of Ahbabu Rasul S.A.W, also set ablaze Nyass’ residence at Gaide, Kombotso Local Government Area and a shariah court at Rijia Lemo.
Nyass and two others Amina Mohammed and Abubakar Abdullahi were due to appear before the court yesterday in connection with the alleged blasphemy, but when they did not show up on time, the protesters doused the building with petrol and set it on fire.
As the protesters chanting Allahu Akbar (God is the Greatest) advanced on the Government House, security personnel quickly formed a barricade to stop them from gaining entry into the sprawling compound.
Tension rose further and Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso had to send the Commissioner for State Affairs, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo and the Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr, Yunusa Dangoni to invite the leader of the sect, Sherriff Sani Jan-bluo into the Government House for a parley.
Comrade Abdulsalam called the blasphemy an unholy act and appealed to Jan-bluo to plead with his followers to calm down.
“I will want you to control your faithful not to cause any mayhem or riot that might lead to an unpleasant situation in the state. What I want from you is to talk to your members to move back to where they are coming from peacefully,” he told Jan-bluo.
He said that as soon as government got wind of the blasphemous statement it summoned a security council meeting to avert trouble from erupting.
The sect leader thanked government for its understanding and then addressed the protesters to go back home.
The Director Kano State Censors Board, Alhaji Dahiru Beli, yesterday slammed a ban on the circulation of all forms of version of the alleged blasphemous video.
He warned that violators would be made to face the wrath of the law.
Prominent Tijaniyya leaders, Sheick Dairu Usman Bauchi, and Khalifa Sheick Isyaka Rabiu condemned the blasphemy and said such a statement could not have from a true disciple of Tijaniyya.