Shocking Murder of Usman Buda was the caption of an Editorial Comment in The Tide newspaper of Friday, July 7, 2023. Usman Buda was reported to have been “slaughtered over an alleged blasphemous remark against the Holy Prophet Mohammed”. Quite a sad irony that Buda, a butcher, was butchered like a sacrificial ram, over a comment deemed to be a heresy, during an argument with another trader. A heresy is a belief or opinion different from what is generally accepted in religious circle. Thus, to make a statement deemed to disparage “the Holy Prophet”, is a heresy! Or blasphemy?
The Tide comment went on to say that in spite of widespread denunciation of the violence, the Sokoto State Governor, Dr Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, has allegedly warned that his government would not hold the issue of blasphemy lightly. The Sokoto State Government went on to warn that “anyone found culpable of any act directed at discrediting the personality of Prophet Mohammed” would be resolutely dealt with, “in line with the provisions of Islamic laws”. Is there any law encouraging mob lynching?
Apart from Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto’s proclamation being “saddening”, there is an acceptable rule of law in every sane society, that anyone deemed to have offended against the law, should be given a fair treatment and a fair hearing, before a court of appropriate jurisdiction. Mob lynching is obviously not in line with the rule of law, but amounts to standing the law on its head. Neither is a mob serving as a court of law, in line with provisions of Islamic Law. For a mob, no matter the degree of provocation, to resort to an act of lynching in public or private setting, is quite barbaric and criminal, with no extenuating excuse or defence!
Religious fervour and piety may be great in Sokoto State, but sadly, that state also carries an unenviable tag of religious extremism, with lynching as a second name. The case of Deborah Samuel, who was stoned to death for alleged sacrilegious statements, which took place last year in Sokoto, is still quite fresh in the minds of people, not only in Nigeria, but also globally. With a similar act of mob lynching involving Usman Buda in the same state within a short space of time, the State Governor, Dr Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, would have been more restrained in his proclamation on heresy.
It was gladdening that some notable Islamic clerics condemned the bestial behaviour of the mob in Sokoto, saying that lynching does not reflect their religion. Neither does any religion encourage violence! Religious zealotry and barbaric reactions to provocations hardly reflect piety or personal maturity, rather, what we find in Nigeria is a situation where the masses can be incited to take the laws into their hands. Thus, religion becomes an instrument for political and economic hegemony, whereby unsuspecting masses become hirelings of those who abuse power. The abuse of power includes inciting sections of the public to resort to acts of criminality and protecting offenders after the deed is done.
Nigeria is a secular state, with the rule of law accepted as one of the vital tenets of social interactions. Similarly, there are several other religious persuasions in the country, beside the two dominant ones. Christianity and Islam. It is quite sad that Northern Nigeria has been associated with religious intolerance and bigotry, to the extent that Sharia Law is seeking to take the place of Nigeria’s common law. Criminal and Civil laws cover every aspect of illegality and wrongs in the society, while religious laws should be applicable only on parochial basis.
Historically, religious movements have been characterised by rigid bigotry, zealotry, fanaticism and such narrow-mindedness that promoted intolerance and division rather than unity among mankind. Most bloody wars and shocking crimes across the globe have taken place under the invocation of the Name of God, such that many people dissociate themselves from religion, rather than embrace it. It soon became clear to many observers of religious movements that seekers after power took advantage of religion as a ladder thereto. Fear was woven into religion as a complement of power.
During the era of The Inquisition, most agonising crimes against humanity were committed, for the purpose of instilling fear in the minds of people, in order to build up power. The Inquisition was instituted largely to destroy and tame the threats and challenges which alleged heretics posed to emerging religious authorities. Most victims of the dreadful proclamation were rich men, whose property were confisticated after burning such heretics alive in what was known as “Auto de Fe”. The aim was to convert rich Jews and Muslims to the Christian faith, particularly in Spain. Doctrines of the Catholic Church were meant to hold sway and anybody having contrary opinions became a heretic.
It took a long time and involving bloody conflicts, for religion to be separated from politics, in many countries; otherwise, religious leaders also controlled political power. Perhaps the spread of democracy, away from theocracy and monarchy, reduced the strangle-hold of religious leaders on the fate of the masses in the modern times. But it cannot be said that religion does not seek to intrude into modern politics. In the case of Nigeria, the trend is quite interesting to watch, but the ultimate goal is economic and political hegemony, with democracy as a smoke screen.
Because of the awe that religion inspires and the respect which the masses have for religious organisations, seekers of power have been known to employ and apply religion as a lever to enhance political power. Thus a major source of abuse of power is religion, through appeal to primordial sentiments. Sadly, gullible masses can easily be mobilised, under the guise of religious proselytism and zealotry, to do a number of things to promote the interests and agenda of political pay masters. Many cases of social instability have been incited and promoted by some interest groups, for purposes connected with the hustling for power.
Heresy was a means applied to consolidate power via the instrumentality of fear of death at the stake. Similarly blasphemy is serving the purpose of applying fear not only to consolidate power but also to expand political authority and influence. Yet, heresy and blasphemy do not feature as crimes in a secular country like Nigeria, making the lynching of people accused of heresy and blasphemy, a crime deserving serious penalty. Even as conducts likely to cause a breach of peace, heresy and blasphemy cannot warrant lynching and such arbitrary penalty without recourse to law court.
Abuse of power in these matters includes handling cases of mob lynching with such kid gloves that those arrested for such offences are released without retribution. So far killers of Deborah Samuel have not been known to be penalised, while the recent case of Buda is “still under effective investigation” but no arrests made. What is known in history as crusades were military expeditions between 1096 and 1272, to recover the “Holy Land” from Muslims, Current experiences, globally, have much to do with past wrong judgments and presumptions. Nor is there any change for the better.

By: Bright Amirize

Dr Amirize is a retired lecturer from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.