Another Riot over Mohammed leaves at least two dead

[Richard Akindele]

Abuja - At least two people including a police inspector were reported killed in Nigeria's predominantly Muslim North Saturday during a violent protest over a leaflet allegedly insulting the Prophet Mohammed. A riot broke out in Sumaila town in Kano state when a group of youths protested circulation of a leaflet deemed slanderous to the Prophet Mohammed, according to the chairman of Sumaila Council area in the state, Zubairu Hamza.

Briefing the Deputy Governor of the State, Abdullahi Gwarzo, at the site of the violence, Hamza said the Sumaila police outpost and vehicles parked outside the building were also destroyed.

Hamza said a "mob" trailed one of a group of non-Muslim students of the Government Secondary School suspected of being behind the distribution of the leaflet to the police station where he was taking refuge.

The violence broke out when police refused to surrender the "suspect". Deputy Governor Gwarzo described the incident as "unfortunate" and gave an assurance that those responsible would be brought to book.

He stressed that no religion condoned slandering of a prophet and urged the people of the town to expose any person who indulged in acts capable of disturbing the peace.

Police Commissioner Mohammed Yesufu later confirmed the arrest of 25 persons in connection with the riot, and added that two persons, not three as stated in earlier reports, had been killed.

A similar riot occurred at Tudun Wada, headquarters of Tudun council area of Kano state last October, during which several lives were lost.

And last Sunday, one person was killed and dozens wounded in religious violence in the Shira council area of Bauchi State, also a predominantly Muslim state in Nigeria's north-east.

The Bauchi protesters also burnt down a police station and places of worship in the area because police officers on duty refused to hand over a woman taking refuge in the station after being accused of desecrating the Koran.

A year ago 30 people were killed during a similar religious uprising following the alleged desecration of the Koran by a female teacher in a state-run secondary school in Bauchi. In 1991, about 200 people were killed in sectarian violence in Bauchi state.