A woman was burnt to death by a mob in Niger State, northern Nigeria, after accusations of blasphemy were made against her. The incident occurred in the town of Kasuwan-Garba, where the woman, a food vendor named Amaye, was allegedly accused of blaspheming the Prophet Muhammad. According to police reports, the accusations followed a joke made by a man proposing marriage to the woman, to which her response was deemed blasphemous by some individuals in the area.
The situation quickly escalated, and before security teams could arrive, the woman was set on fire by a mob. This act of violence was condemned by local authorities, who referred to it as “jungle justice.” An investigation was launched, and efforts were made to apprehend the individuals responsible for the killing. The police have urged the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and to remain calm in the aftermath of the incident.
Blasphemy accusations, particularly in northern Nigeria, have been the catalyst for several violent killings in recent years. Under Sharia law, which operates alongside secular law in 12 northern states, blasphemy is a criminal offense. However, critics argue that such allegations are often used as tools to settle personal disputes. Amnesty International has highlighted the issue, stating that accusations of blasphemy are sometimes “weaponized” and lead to swift mob justice, with little to no judicial intervention.
This tragic event is not isolated. Similar incidents have occurred in the past, including the killing of student Deborah Samuel in 2022 and the stoning of butcher Usman Buda in 2024. Both were accused of blasphemy and met violent ends at the hands of mobs. These incidents have raised concerns about the adequacy of measures in place to prevent such acts of violence and to ensure justice is served in these cases.
Despite Nigeria’s constitution guaranteeing freedom of speech, the deep divisions in the country regarding matters of faith and justice continue to fuel mob violence. The Nigerian Supreme Court has previously ruled that blasphemy allegations must be proven in a court of law, yet many of these cases are never brought before judicial authorities, resulting in tragic outcomes.
