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Tag: Kano killing

  • Kano killing: Group demands justice

    A group, Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigerian Society (CWEENS), has demanded justice in ongoing trial of the murder of Madam Bridget Agbahime in Kano recently.

    The Jos based non-governmental organisation whose main objective is to fight against violence against women and girls, said the case of the late Agbahime should be treated as assassination.

    Briefing newsmen in Jos yesterday, Prayer Coordinator of the NGO, Pastor Gloria Emmanuel, said: “The cases of such religious violence in Northern Nigeria are one case too many and the only way to stop the trend is to ensure justice is done to victims.”

    Recounting similar incidence in the north, Emmanuel said: “We must not forget Christiana Oluwasesin who was killed by a secondary school student because she seized a copy of Koran from a student whom she found cheating during an examination in Gombe in 2007.

    “In 2009, Grace Ushang was not only murdered, she was raped in Maiduguri for wearing NYSC khaki trouser.

    “In Kano state in 1997, Gedeon Akaluka was beheaded on the false accusation that he used a copy of Koran to clean himself after defecating.

    “His head was severed from his body and proudly paraded round the city of Kano.

    “During the 2011 elections, some youth corps members on national service had their lives terminated in the north because they were perceived to be sinners.”

    CWEENS lamented nobody was persecuted for any of the cases, a development it said was worrisome.

    Pastor Emmanuel also noted that discrimination against Christians in the north is becoming a culture that must stop.

    The NGO recommended that a commission of inquiry be constituted to thoroughly investigate the remote causes of the killing of Madam Agbahime.

  • Senate seeks proper prosecution of Kano killing culprits

    Senate seeks proper prosecution of Kano killing culprits

    The Senate has condemned the killing of Mrs. Bridget Agbahime in Kano State, even as it urged the Federal Government to ensure that the perpetrators were properly prosecuted in line with the laws of the country.

    Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East) drew the attention of the Senate to the murder. He noted that government at all levels must ensure the protection of lives and property of Nigerians.

    Senator Anyanwu condemned the killing and prayed the Senate to do same. He thanked the Kano State Governor, Umar Ganduje, and the Commissioner of Police for taking immediate actions leading to the some arrests, but insisted that the culprits be prosecuted duly.

    His words: “I think it should go beyond arrests. We do not want a situation where someone is being detained today and after some time, we do not hear about the matter again. The worst thing that could happen to a man is for his wife to be killed right before him.

    “I think this Senate should rise and condemn this act, we are one Nigeria; we all believe in one Nigeria and we want to respect our religious affiliations. This country must be united; you would agree with me that the Igbo are the most liberalised people because we believe in one Nigeria, we live in every part of Nigeria. So I feel bad with the way we are being treated and I think this Senate should rise and ask the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, to ensure that the culprits are brought to book.”

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary, asked Arase and other relevant government agencies to ensure the culprits are prosecuted.

    “Let me on behalf of the Senate express our condolences to the family and to the people of your constituency, the entire Imo State and indeed Nigerians.

    “This is because every soul matters to us as Nigerians. The rate of killing in Nigeria is becoming very embarrassing. We must do everything as leaders to protect the lives and property of the citizens. Every life matters to us, so we cannot continue on the path of diminishing it.

    “It is the responsibility of security agencies to ensure that every Nigerian is protected wherever he or she lives. To ensure that this doesn’t happen again, every effort must be made to fish out those responsible so that they will face the full wrath of the law. We believe that this might be the last of this kind of incidence anywhere in Nigeria,” Ekweremadu said.

  • Kano killing: Oyegun, El-Rufai urges open trial

    Kano killing: Oyegun, El-Rufai urges open trial

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and the Governors of Kaduna and Buachi States, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and Mohammed Abdullahi, have sought the open trial of culprits in the murder of Mrs. Bridget Agbaheme.

    At a meeting with the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, led by the President-General, Gary Igariwey, in Owerri, the governors insisted that those behind the crime must be brought to book.

    El-Rufai said the Northern state governors condemn the murder, adding that “we will not accept a situation where people, Christians or Muslims, hide under religion to commit crime. If someone insults God, he/she should be left for God to judge. I have advised the Kano State Governor to publicly deal with those involved to deter others”.

    Abubakar said: “The killing of Mrs. Agbaheme was an evil act. I have liaised with the Kano State Governor and he assured that arrests have been made and culprits will face the full weight of the law.”

    Chief Oyegun noted that the country has to face its challenges squarely, just as he lauded the leadership of Ohanaeze for their maturity in handling sensitive issues.

    Igariwey said he was satisfied with Kano state’s handling of the matter, even as he cautioned against inciting statements from leaders.

    He also praised the goodwill demonstrated by governors El-Rufai and Abdullahi.

    Governor Rochas Okorocha said the murder had nothing to do with tribe or religion, stressing that “what is criminal is criminal, and must be treated as specified by law.

    “With what the governors said, it could now be understood that the Kano incident was not an attack against Ndigbo, but a case of crime. Seventy per cent of Nigeria’s problems could be adjudged to have arisen from lack of communication. It is also pertinent for us to know that the wonderful bridge that connects the Igbo to the North is not faulty. The bridge is as strong as it has ever been. The Igbos must fortify this bridge for both economic and political reasons.”

  • Kano killing: Senate seeks culprits’ prosecution

    The Senate on Tuesday condemned in strong terms the last Thursday killing of Mrs. Bridget Agbahime in Kano State.

    The upper chamber urged the Federal Government to ensure that those behind the killing were properly prosecuted in line with the laws of the country.

    Mrs. Agbahime was gruesomely murdered in a Kano market after she was accused of blasphemy.

    Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East) drew attention of the Senate to the woman’s murder.

    The lawmaker noted that government at all levels must ensure protection of lives and property of all Nigerians.

    Senator Anyanwu in his Point of Order, condemned the killing and prayed the Senate to rise and condemn it too.

    He commended the state governor and the commissioner of police for the arrest of some people.

    He insisted that those involved in the killing should be duly prosecuted.

     

  • BUHARI: JUSTICE WILL BE DONE OVER KANO ‘BLASPHEMY’ KILLING

    BUHARI: JUSTICE WILL BE DONE OVER KANO ‘BLASPHEMY’ KILLING

    • IGP deploys officers to probe murder

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday  condemned Thursday’s killing of a woman, Mrs Bridget Agbahime, by a mob in Kano,  and declared that justice would be done in the matter.

    Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, condoled with the husband of the deceased, Pastor Mike Agbahime, and the family.

    He prayed that God might give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

    He also commended the law enforcement agents for apprehending the prime suspect in the killing, as well as the Kano State government, which summoned a meeting of Christian and Islamic leaders soon after the incident.

    He warned  those who may want to use the development to fan the embers of religious or ethnic hatred to remember that two wrongs never make a right, and that when law and order breaks down, those who become victims are never distinguished on the basis of religion or ethnicity.

    “The incident at Kofar Wambai market, Kano city, is utterly condemnable, and the state government has been quite proactive. Let us ensure that we keep the peace, as justice will be done. Let us learn to respect each other’s faith, so that we can know each other and live together in peace,” the President said.

    Police Inspector-General Solomon Arase has deployed homicide detectives to take over the investigation into the incident.

    The police, in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Bisi Kolawole confirmed the arrest of two principal suspects in connection with the murder – Dauda Ahmed and Subeiru Abubakar.

    Arase condemned the incident and appealed for calm while assuring the family of the deceased and the general public that justice would be done in the case.

    The IG directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in- charge of the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department to deploy the Homicide Section of the Department to immediately take over the investigation of the case and ensure a meticulous investigation and speedy prosecution of the arrested suspects.

    The Force emphasized the sanctity of human lives and condemned in strong terms the violation of the right to life of citizens under any guise.