Kano, Nigeria - A 50-year-old Muslim man, who allegedly made a blasphemous statement against Prophet Muhammad, was beaten to death in Kano on Saturday.
The man was killed at Sheka Aci Lafiya quarters when some angry Muslim youths besieged his house and beat him to a state of coma.
He died shortly after a team of police and Hisbah officials rescued him from the mob, the police said. The man died as he was being rushed to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital.
Witnesses told Daily Trust that the man, though a Muslim, made a statement residents considered as blasphemous against the Holy Prophet after his relatives denied him his share of the estate left by their deceased father.
He was beaten and left unconscious before the police intervened and dispersed the crowd.
But for the quick intervention of the police and Hisbah officials, a full-scale crisis would have erupted, residents said.
A witness said, "Many youths carrying various types of dangerous weapons have started grouping themselves for further action over the issue before the police and Hisbah men dispersed them."
He said the victim made the alleged blasphemous statement Friday night and repeated same on Saturday morning.
When the news spread to the neighborhood about the man's statement, a group of youths mobilized and attacked him.
A witness, Ali Muhammad, told our correspondent that the man was beaten with sticks and other local weapons and was left "in the pool of his own blood."
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer SP Baba Mohammed confirmed the incident. Mohammed said the man was rescued alive but later died while the police were conveying him to the hospital. He said investigation is still onby the police to trace the persons responsible for the attack.
Mohammed said no arrest has been made yet, adding that the police had restored law and order in the area.