Police Avert Bloodshed in Lagos Law School over Alleged Blasphemy

 

Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command on Monday averted possible bloodshed at the Lagos Law School over an alleged blasphemous publication by one of its students.

According to a report, the student, one Timothy Mmadu, had sent an alleged blasphemous article on Prophet Muhammed to the Whatsapp group chat of the class of 2018 of the Lagos Law School.

The said publication was said to have infuriated the Muslims on the platform and they vowed to lynch him on the campus grounds if he is caught.

Although the school authorities were said to have immediately sued for peace, they still invited the police to wade into the matter, which they did.

Meanwhile, the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) Nigerian Law School chapter was said to have already written a petition to the school authorities against Mmadu.

Describing the publication as callous and blasphemous against the prophet, without any regards to the sensibilities of the Muslim students, they asked the school authorities to take action.

A visit to the school premises showed that the tension has been doused as people went about their daily activities.

The state Police Spokesperson, CSP Chike Oti, said the credited should be given to the police for dousing an already tense situation.

According to him, the divisional police officer immediately took appropriate steps by addressing all concerned.

He said: "Everything is under control at the moment. The DPO went to the school and spoke to the authorities before addressing the Muslim and Christian community.

"Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, has directed that a manhunt be launched for the culprits behind the blasphemous publication.

"The CP also warned that no individual or group would be allowed to jeopardise the religious harmony in the state," Oti said.

Also speaking on anonymity, a senior police officer told THISDAY that the police had tracked the number of the said Mmadu and he said he was not the originator of the message.

"According to him, he was not the originator; rather, he merely posted to the group chat a message forwarded to him by one Takwat.

"We asked for her number in order to invite her too for questioning but her number was switched off. We are on the case and we will get to the bottom of the matter," he added.