Violence in Funtua over ‘blasphemy’
Youths took to the streets in Funtua town of Katsina State yesterday in protest over alleged defamation of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) by a teacher.
Daily Trust gathered that the defamatory statement featured in an examination question paper set by the school last Thursday.
Hundreds of youths went round the town in a protest which eventually turned violent as part of the school and a church were set on fire.
Interim chairman of Funtua Local Government Area, Alhaji Abdu Isah and the district head of Funtua, Alhaji Sambo Idris Sambo, went round the town pleading with the youths to be calm.
Our correspondent reports that policemen had to be deployed to the area to bring the situation under control.
No life was lost in the incident, but shops and markets in the area were shut down. The state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Hurdi, who visited the area, said calm has been restored.