Nigeria: Blasphemy killing – mere public disturbance?

As has been widely reported in national and international news outlets, a student of Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto State, was murdered in cold blood on 12 May 2022 by classmates for a WhatsApp comment allegedly insulting Islam (BBC News, 14 May 2022). The stoning and burning of the Christian girl, Deborah Yakubu, at the college gates was also captured on video and shared on social media. Although the killing was condemned by Muslims and Christians across Nigeria, riots broke out in Sokoto with armed protestors demanding the release of the two suspected ringleaders who were arrested by the police and charged with ‘criminal conspiracy and inciting of public disturbance’ (Sahara Reporters, 16 May 2022). The looting and burning of Christian shops and vandalism of churches by the demonstrators was also reported.

Frans Veerman, Managing Director of World Watch Research (WWR) comments: “WWR’s previous article on Nigeria ended with the remark that living under Sharia is very dangerous for Christians (WWR, 17 May 2022). This brutal murder could not be a clearer illustration of that. The charges made against the ringleaders (who have so far pleaded ‘not guilty’) are so weak, that they are verging on impunity. How can Christians ever be safe in a country where even college-educated Muslims revert to mob-violence in total disregard of the Nigerian Constitution and Law?”

Frans Veerman continues: “Mob-violence by enraged Muslims should be distinguished from jihadist violence, but the end result is the same. What we see in this killing is the extreme level of pressure being placed on ordinary Christian life in a Sharia state. One careless remark (whether factual or just a rumor) and you are deemed not worthy of living. Among the reactions from Muslim clerics, there were those who supported the killing for blasphemy and those who condemned it. The latter held the view that if the student said something blasphemous she should have been taken to trial for the court to decide upon the punishment. In each and every case, no one stopped for a moment to consider whether punishment for (unintentional) blasphemy truly has a place in an officially secular nation.”

Frans Veerman continues: “Throughout the country, thousands of Christians also demonstrated against the Sokoto killing, but without looting, burning and vandalism (Christianity Today – CT, 25 May 2022). However, in northern areas where it was deemed unsafe to gather in peaceful demonstrations on the streets, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) urged churches to carry their placards and pray for justice within church premises only (Daily Trust, 22 May 2022). This need to ‘hide’ one’s  faith and opinions once again emphasizes the sheer dominance of Islam in many parts of northern Nigeria, which is forcing Christians to take the position of second-class citizens. Is this something a president and government of a secular nation can honestly accept?”

Frans Veerman adds: “As if the murder of Deborah Samuel was not enough, in the same week the violent Islamic group ISWAP released a video via its Amaq news channel depicting the execution of 20 men said to Christians from Borno State. ISWAP called the executions a warning to ‘Christians around the world’ and said that ‘jihadists will be at war with them … till the end of times’(CT, 21 May 2022). Which is worse – jihadist groups targeting Christians, or governments that regard the mob-killing of Christians as mere ‘public disturbance’?”