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World News

President urged to intervene after court frees five men charged over pastor's wife death

Muhammadu Buhari is being urged by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria to intervene in the case of 74 year old Bridget Agbahime after five men charged with culpable homicide were freed.

It urged Mr Buhari and the local State Governor: "to rapidly refile the matter in a proper court system so that the killers of this Nigerian citizen are charged and punished for the unprovoked murder of this innocent Igbo woman in Kano State."

Mrs Agbahime was battered to death by a mob at Kofar Wambai (pictured) market in Kano State on 2nd June 2016, following a false accusation she had committed blasphemy.

Dauda Ahmed, Zubairu Abdullahi, Abdulmumeen Mustafa, Abdullahi Abubakar and Musa Abdullahi were arrested over the death of Mrs Agbahime and charged with inciting disturbance, joint act, mischief and culpable homicide.

The State's chief magistrate, Muhammad Jibril, earlier this month discharged the five men and threw out the case against them, also prompting concern over whether such a low-level court has jurisdiction over such a case.

Chief Executive of Christian Solidarity World, an organisation advocating for religious freedom, Mervyn Thomas said: "The unconditional release of these suspects, one of whom we believe to be directly implicated in, if not responsible for this brutal murder, is both inexplicable and unacceptable."

"CSW therefore urges the Federal authorities to ensure this decision is reviewed and that the perpetrators of this appalling murder face justice.

"The continuing lack of consequences will increase the impunity surrounding blasphemy accusations, which are used to justify the most extreme acts of lawlessness, regardless of the character and integrity of the person making the accusation."

Mrs Agbahime was the wife of a pastor from Deeper Life Bible Church in Noman's land, Kano State.

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