Talata-Mafara community in Zamfara state is currently in a tense mood as no fewer than eight people were killed on Monday in the area where the Abdu Gusau Polytechnic is located.
Violence erupted over allegations that a student of the polytechnic made blasphemous statements against Islam.
Zamfara state governor, Abdulaziz Yari joined hundreds of people to bury the victims killed by an angry mob. The attackers were said to have set fire on the house of a man who tried to rescue the student. The student was alleged to have made a blasphemous statement against Islam and Prophet Muhammad and was consequently attacked by a mob who beat him to a pulp. The man, whose name was simply given as Tajudeen, took him in his car and rushed him to a hospital.
The governor, who called for an emergency Security Council meeting over the incident, expressed sadness and vowed that “no stone will be left unturned until all those behind this act are brought to book”.
The police have imposed a 12-hour curfew in the community, from 7pm to 7am daily until further notice, with warning that anyone caught violating the order would be prosecuted.