The gruesome murder of Bridget Agbahime by a mob at
Kano’s Kofar Wambai Market sparked national outrage.
President Muhmmadu Buhari, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje
and many others condemned the attack and demanded the
culprits be brought to book.
On Friday, June 10, five suspects were arraigned before a
court in Kano over the killing of the market woman on
allegation of blasphemy.
According to the police, Mrs Agbahime was accused of
blaspheming the Prophet Mohammed of Islam before being
clubbed to death.
The suspects (Dauda Ahmad, Abdullahi Mustapha, Zubairu
Abubakar, Abdullahi Abubakar and Musa Abdullahi) were
arraigned before Chief Magistrate Court on a four-count
charge.
They were charged with incitement, culpable homicide and
mischief, while the prime suspect, Dauda Ahmad, was
accused of leading others to attack and hack the victim to
death.
If found guilty, Ahmad could face the death penalty.
During the hearing, Dauda Jibrin, the prosecutor, said that
on June 2, at about 4pm, Ahmad went and held the hands
of Mrs. Agbahime. He slapped her on the face before
shouting Allahu Akbar with the intent to cause religious
upheaval.
Two other suspects, Abdullahi Mustapha and Zubairu
Abubakar, joined him, while others at large, including
Salawiyu, Ibrahim, Dini, Isiyaku Mada, Mallam Sani and
Yunusa Sufi, also accompanied them to Mrs. Agbahime’s
shop located on the first floor.
They beat the woman with sticks causing serious injuries
that led to her death.
Two of the suspects pleaded not guilty to the four
charges, while Mustapha and Abubakar said they were not
even at the scene of the incident.
The case has been adjoined to June 28 to allow police
complete the ongoing investigations.