Swift police intervention averted a possible lynching yesterday night after an alleged blasphemy incident sparked outrage and panic at a popular hotel within Kano metropolis, eyewitnesses and security sources have confirmed.
According to police accounts, tension escalated rapidly when a man accused of desecrating a religious item was confronted by an angry crowd, forcing officers to move decisively to prevent the situation from spiralling into violence.
The incident unfolded at Sarina Hotel in the Badawa area, where police said they received an emergency alert late in the evening indicating that a mob was converging on the premises over a sensitive religious allegation.
Police sources explained that three young men, identified as Musa Tasiu, Awwal Ibrahim and Soja Snu, all residents of Dorayi Quarters, had earlier visited the hotel to smoke shisha before the situation took a dramatic turn.
Moreover, one of the men, Musa Tasiu, allegedly entered the hotel’s mosque, damaged a glass door and tore pages from a copy of the Holy Qur’an, an action that immediately provoked outrage among people within the hotel.
“The atmosphere changed within minutes. People became emotional, and the suspect was nearly attacked before help arrived,” a police source familiar with the operation said.
Furthermore, a patrol team from the division reportedly responded swiftly to the distress call, dispersing the crowd and extracting the suspect from imminent danger.
“The priority was to save lives and restore calm. Our officers acted professionally under intense pressure,” the source added.
Following the rescue, normal activities gradually returned to the area as police secured the scene and took the suspect into custody for further questioning.
Police authorities said investigations into the incident were ongoing, assuring residents that the matter would be handled in accordance with the law.
However, the command urged the public to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands, stressing that all allegations, especially sensitive ones, should be reported to security agencies for proper handling.