By Ikechukwu Amaechi
When Bridget Agbahime was murdered on June 2, 2016, in the presence of
her husband, Pastor Mike Agbahime, by Muslim fundamentalists in the name of
“Allah”, Nigerian leaders made the usual noises.
Agbahime, who hailed from Imo State, and was a member
of the Deeper Life Bible Church, was said to have prevented Muslims from
performing ablution in front of her shop at Kofar Wambai Market in Kano, where
she sold plastic wares.
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| Late Mrs. Bridget Agbahime |
The punishment for such a “crime” was death, in the
opinion of her traducers, who promptly accused her of blasphemy and lynched
her.
She was murdered at 74 by those young enough to be her
grandchildren. Even her age could not act as a leash on their murderous
impulse.
The market was preparing to close for the day’s
business when the soulless characters carried out the gruesome murder. So, it
was in broad daylight. Those around saw and knew the murderers.
The hideous characters didn’t wear masks. In their
usual impunity, like the axiomatic son whose father sends him to steal, and
who, therefore, kicks the door open with his foot, the religious bigots, didn’t
care a hoot.
They knew that nothing had happened to their fellow
blood-thirsty zealots who beheaded Gideon Akaluka in the same Kano
Because the murderers were known, it was not a
surprise when police headquarters in Abuja announced almost immediately that
two suspects had been arrested, even as then Inspector General of Police,
Solomon Arase, called for calm while assuring that justice would be done.
A statement issued by then Force Public Relations
Officer, ACP Olabisi Kolawole said: “In order to ensure a diligent and
professional investigation, [Arase] has directed the deputy inspector general
of police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence
Department (FCIID) to deploy the Homicide Section of the Department to
immediately take over the investigation of the case and ensure a meticulous
investigation and speedy prosecution of the arrested suspects.”
