The Chief Imam of National Mosque Abuja has justified the horrific murder of christian female student Deborah Samuel, blaming her for crossing the red lines of Islamic faith.

Absolving her killers, Mr Maqari hinted grave consequences awaited persons who crossed the religion’s red lines, noting that such conduct will not be tolerated.

He said, “It should be known to everyone that we the Muslims have some red lines beyond which MUST NOT be crossed. The dignity of the Prophet (PBUH) is at the forefront of the red lines. If our grievances are not properly addressed, then you should not be criticized for addressing them ourselves,” said a statement posted on the imam’s Twitter account.

A Sokoto government official, Anas Mohammad Sani, also threatened that more Christians in Nigeria will be murdered if they say things considered disrespectful to their revered Prophet Muhammad.

“Muslims don’t take insults against beloved prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in whatever form,” he warned.

According to him, the Shehu Shagari College of Education student was brutally murdered because of her reckless comments regarding the Islamic faith.

Justifying the gruesome murder of the female Christian student, Mr Sani said, “The earlier our Christian brothers and sisters understand this, the better for all of us. May the recklessness of our tongues never drive us to (an) early grave.”

Ms Samuel, a 200 level Home-Economics student accused of blasphemy, had complained bitterly over the influx of religious broadcast messages shared to her department’s WhatsApp page.

Her complaints elicited the fury of fanatic coursemates and schoolmates who stoned her to death and set her lifeless body ablaze.

Also, a Sokoto-based Islamic cleric has in a viral video encouraged the Muslim faithfuls to assassinate anyone who dares to insult Prophet Muhammad.

The preacher vehemently charged Muslims to take action against anyone who attacks the integrity of the prophet.

He also made reference to someone who had allegedly insulted Prophet Muhammad and was in police custody.

The cleric urged his congregation to kill the suspect once he was released.

In a viral video the preacher said, “He wrote on Facebook. He said a lot of things that are not right about the prophet of Allah and in Sokoto, I said he was courageous. For us, we kill such a person. For the prophet of Allah, the least we can do is to kill.

“We are not like Muslims, because Kano Muslims are more like merchants. That’s why when they insulted the prophet as one practising sodomy, no action was taken. They insulted the prophet and called him an adulterer and paedophile, yet no action was taken but here in Sokoto, we kill such people.

“Anyone who insults the prophet, our duty is to kill such a person. If they claim the man who blasphemously insulted the prophet was mad, we’re also a bunch of mad people here in Sokoto.

“The extent of our sanity is proportional to how someone attacks our holy prophet. Once he’s attacked, we’re mad enough to strike. I’m speaking the truth; may God bless the people of Sokoto for defending the prophet’s integrity.

“Any Muslim faithful who joined the demonstration to the palace of Sultan of Sokoto has demonstrated enough evidence that he is a true discipline of Danfodio. “Once he is out of the police custody, take action; assassinate the blasphemer. The claim of insanity to protect him is invalid. If he’s mentally deranged and would not insult anyone except the prophet; then we’re also insane once the prophet is insulted.

“Kill him once you see him. Not just him but anyone who insults the prophet.”

“There’s no other punishment other than death for insulting the prophet of Islam. Even if the person is a Muslim, he must be assassinated,” he added.