Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, on Monday, tasked the Department of State Services to arrest the Chief Imam of Bayero University, Kano, Sheikh Abubakar Jibril, for allegedly inciting Muslims against the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan-Kukah.
HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said Jibril was captured in a viral video allegedly telling his many Muslim followers to get the home address of Kukah and possibly attack the bishop.
Rioters last Thursday stoned and burnt a 200-level Home Economics student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, Deborah Yakubu, for alleged blasphemy of Prophet Muhammad.
The police arrested two suspects and protesters had on Saturday demanded their release. The young demonstrators turned violent, vandalised, looted and burnt traders’ shops, churches and residential apartments perceived to bowned by Christians.
Rampaging hoodlums also on Saturday torched and vandalised at least two parishes presided over by Kukah and it took the swift response of security operatives to stop any attack on the bishop’s personal residence.
The group, in its statement on Monday, accused Jibril of sponsoring the attack on Kukah’s parishes through inciteful comments on social media.
HURIWA’s Onwubiko said, “By this statement, HURIWA is putting the Department of State Services on notice to hold Sheikh Abubakar Jibril accountable for the fatal mob attack on Kukah’s parishes on Saturday.
