Angry Muslim youths took to the streets of Bichi, a booming community in northern Nigeria city of Kano on Thursday protesting what they described as blasphemous remarks on Prophet Mohammed by a tailor.
Poinblanknews.com reports that churches, shops and houses owned by non-natives were looted and burnt by the protesters who also blocked roads with burn-fires, preventing vehicles plying towards Katsina from movement for several hours.
Security forces, however, responded to the development after several people were wounded out of stampede.
It is not yet clear whether any life was lost as at the time of filing this report, but Poinblanknews.com learnt that most of the victims rushed to a Kano Specialist Hospital were in critical condition.
It was gathered that trouble started when a tailor joked with his neighbor over a cloth he sew, using an adage that was perceived to debase the person, integrity and divinity of Prophet Mohammed.
The tailor was said to have shown a newly sown cloth to his neighbor, describing the style of the cloth as, “Annabi Ya Shiga Kasuwa (meaning, the Prophet has entered market).
According to a resident said, “I saw people running towards the College of Education and police stations to take refuge while the protesters were on rampage.
“I cannot confirm if any life was lost yet, but I can see security personnel both the police, army and the JTF driving away the protesters. I can say that normalcy is gradually returning, but non-Muslims and non-natives are fleeing the area for fear of the unknown.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim K. Idris who confirmed the incident said his men and other security agencies had cordoned off the area.
He advised residents to remain calm and law-abiding, pointing out that enough security arrangement has been put in place to restore peace and order.