he Kano state police command on Friday dock 13 persons before a Kano chief magistrate court no 20 on a four count allegations bordering on the killing of 74 years-old Mrs Bridget Agbahime who got murdered for committing the alleged act of blasphemy
However, five of the suspected murders were arraigned before the court while eight others were said to be at large
According to reports, on June 2, 2016 the accused persons at Kofar Wambai market alleged that the decease had blasphemed prophet Mohammed PBUH and hence mobbed and murdered her.
Those arraigned are Dauda Ahmed, Abdulmumuni, Mustapha, Zubairu Abubakar, Abdullahi Abubakar, Musa Abullahi, the prosecution led by barrister Usman A. Jubrin informed the court that the accused persons jointly incited public disturbance, engaged in mischief and were responsible for the death of late Mrs Bridget o that fateful day.
The charge sheet further read out to the accuse persons in an open court, that they are accused of committing offences of inciting disturbance, joint act, mischief and culpable homicide contrary to section, 114,80,327 and 221 of the penal code law.
Barrister Jibrin, the prosecutor who informed the court that, the first accused person, Dauda Ahmed had brawl with the decease, noting that, Dauda seized the late woman and slapped her before he proceeded to shout Allahu Akbar to attract sympathy.
The charge sheet further alleged that, the shout by the first accuse attracted a huge crowd to whom he disclosed that Bridget had blasphemed the prophet of Islam PBUH.
First information report added that, the crowd went ahead to strike the accused woman with clubs and various types of dangerous weapon culminating into her suffering from grievous hurt leading to her death.
The charge sheet noted that, one Salawihu, Ibrahim, Dini,Isiaku, Mallam Sani, Sufiyanu, Yunusa and Mallam Umar were part of the mob that carried out the dastardly act, but are at large.
The suspected killers of Mrs Bridget denied the allegations slammed against them before the court, stating that all that was contained in the FIR was not true.
The case diary has been forwarded to the Director Public Prosecution for legal advice, police investigation into the matter was still in progress the court heard.
The court presided over by chief magistrate Mohammed Jubrin ruled that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody.
The matter is adjourned to June 28 for mention.
To guide against any occurrence of violence during the arraignment of the suspects the magistrate court premises located within Audu bako secretariat was placed under the watch of heavily armed security operatives, while the trial lasted.
Also large number of residents trooped to the court to witness the trial, Kano non indigene were led to trial by the Eze ndi Igbo Kano, Igwe Boniface Ibekwe accompanied by other non-indigenous leaders.
The accused persons were chauffeured into the court premises at about 9:45am in a heavily guarded police van.
It would be recalled that the chairman of Kano Municipal Local Government Area, Honourable Mukhtar Ishaq Yakasai, has said that the gruesome killing of Mrs. Bridget Agbahime, an Ibo woman , by hoodlums at Kofar Wambai market last Thursday, was an act of satanic and not having a religion undertone
Kofar Wambai market , is under the control of Kano municipal local government area where Honourable Ishaq , is the chairman however condemned the incident, saying adequate security measures has also been put in place to forestall further occurrences.
Hon Yakasai disclosed this while speaking with pressmen , said Islam is a religion of peace noting that whoever is hiding under the religion to wreck havoc on innocent is not practicing the religion but only a messenger of devil
According him,’’ my office, which is under the control of the market where the incident occurred has been holding a series of security and stakeholders meetings to ensure that adequate security is provided at all the markets within the Local Government Area.
His words , “the Kofar Wambai issue was an act of Satan and I pray that this kind of incident will never happen again in Kano. I have called a meeting of all community leaders, including the Igbos and representatives of other ethnic communities in our markets.
“I have discussed with them, I have discussed with the District Head and Village Heads. We have put our heads together all a bid to ensure continuous peaceful co-existence in our markets and communities.
“They have given me their words and I want to appeal to our brothers and sisters from other ethnic communities, particularly, those from the Igbo extraction where our sister hails from to continue to give peace a chance.
We can assure them of adequate security of their lives and properties at the market and in their homes. There is no cause for anybody to panic. We have blocked all the security leakages at the market. In fact, we are working things out, not only in Kofar Wambai market, but in all the markets within Kano Municipal Council.
We are very hospitable people and we shall continue to ensure that traders in our markets are well protected.”
