Usman Buda, a butcher in Sokoto State, was killed after being accused of making blasphemous remarks about the Holy Prophet.
According to Daily Trust, the incident occurred around 8 a.m. on Sunday at the main Sokoto Abattoir during a dispute with another trader.
An eyewitness told the platform, “Our leaders made a fruitless attempt to save him but they could not contain the crowd. They initially rescued him and hid him before they were overpowered.”
Buda was reportedly beaten to death by the crowd, which was mostly made up of fellow butchers, and his body was later removed by police.
Close business associates also attempted to intervene, with some allegedly injuring themselves and requiring medical attention.
Buda was originally from Tambuwal local government area but was living in Gidan Igwe, Sokoto North local government area, according to a security officer who requested anonymity.
Buda was well-known for selling cow entrails at the Kasuwan Dankure market in Sokoto.
Malam Yusuf, a neighbour, expressed shock at Buda’s death, describing him as a religious man of the Izala sect.
Yusuf stated, “There is no way he could make such a statement against the Holy Prophet. There must be a reason behind his murder.”
Other people in the market, including another butcher and a seller of perishable items, expressed surprise at the incident, implying that Buda’s success in business may have caused envy among his colleagues.
Sokoto state police confirmed the murder and said they had received a distress call about it.
According to ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, a team of police officers was led to the scene by the Commissioner of Police, Area Commander Metro, and DPO Kwanni, only to find the mob dispersed and Buda unconscious.
He was taken to the Usmanu Danfodio Teaching Hospital in Sokoto (UDUTH), where he was pronounced dead.
Investigations are currently being conducted to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
