Many of those targeted were Christians, but police‐stations and mosques deemed “insufficiently Islamic” were also attacked.
Two years ago, a 22‐year‐old music studio assistant, Yahaya Sharif‐Aminu, was sentenced to death by hanging after being convicted by an Islamic court in Kano of making “a blasphemous statement against prophet Mohammed in a WhatsApp group”.
Its army has suffered heavy losses at the hands of Islamist militants, who control swathes of the country and have forced residents in those areas to abide by their harsh version of Islamic law.