Amnesty International Nigeria condemns Katsina mob violence over blasphemy case

Amnesty International Nigeria condemns Katsina mob violence over blasphemy case

Amnesty International Nigeria has condemned what it called a dangerous rise in mob violence after a crowd reportedly surrounded a court in Katsina State and demanded the extrajudicial execution of a defendant facing a blasphemy allegation.

The rights group said the incident happened on July 1 in Kofar Soro, Katsina town. It described the action as a direct attack on the rule of law and warned that every accused person has the constitutional right to a fair trial.

According to the organisation, children and young men, some allegedly carrying weapons, gathered outside the court and demanded that the suspect be killed without due process. Amnesty International Nigeria said such actions weaken Nigeria’s justice system and encourage lawlessness.

Furthermore, the organisation linked the incident to the recent mob killing of Ummulkhairi, a teacher and mother of five, in Kaduna State. It warned that repeated acts of mob justice show growing disregard for lawful judicial processes.

Amnesty International also expressed concern over the reported involvement of children, saying they should be in school or learning vocational skills instead of participating in violence.

The group urged the Katsina State Government and security agencies to investigate the incident, identify those responsible and prosecute anyone who incited or joined the attempted mob action. Amnesty International Nigeria insisted that justice must be delivered through the courts, not through violence.