Tension in Katsina as angry residents raze neighbor’s house, car over blasphemous Facebook post

Tensions escalated in the capital of Katsina State following a controversial social media post that some residents deemed offensive.

Mani Abubakar, a Christian native of the state, reportedly authored a Facebook post in Hausa, which allegedly contained derogatory remarks about Islam. This post led to a surge of anger among locals, resulting in the destruction of Abubakar’s residence and vehicle in Babaruga. Abubakar narrowly escaped the incident late Tuesday night, and his current whereabouts remain unknown.

While the exact content of the Facebook post remains uncertain, reports suggest that it raised questions about the origin of the Quran and criticized certain aspects of Islam.

The Christian Association of Nigeria is actively working with authorities and plans to meet with the Emir of Katsina to ensure the safety of Mani Abubakar upon his reappearance.

Christian leaders within the state are urging for calm and mutual understanding. Muyiwa Segun, the Vice Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Katsina, strongly condemned any form of violence or disrespect toward other religions. He emphasized the importance of respecting each other’s religious beliefs, stating, “Christians don’t have any business abusing other people’s religion. That is not how to do evangelism.”

Segun further confirmed that CAN is collaborating with security officials and religious leaders to maintain peace and ensure the safety of the community.