Imposing a lockdown to try to resist the advance of the spread of Chinese Corvid19, is easier and more effective in some areas than others. In the West, social distancing is relatively easy to achieve but in places such as parts of Nigeria where Islam holds sway, it’s not so easy and one incident of enforced mosque closure has turned violent.

According to a report being carried on the Nigerian Tribune website (h/t ROP), one Muslim rioter was killed and 90 arrested after protests over a mosque closure turned violent. The Muslim mob marched to a police station and burned it to the ground.

The Nigerian Tribune said:

The Police in Katsina State has arrested 90 people for allegedly setting ablaze Kusada Divisional Police Station over the suspension of Friday congregational prayer by the state government to contain the spread of coronavirus.

One of the rioters also lost his life in the encounter, the police command spokesman, SP Gambo Isah, said in a statement issued to newsmen on Saturday in Katsina.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government directed the closure of state borders, suspended large gatherings, Friday congregational prayer and Church services.

According to the police spokesman, some disgruntled youths, under the leadership of one Malam Hassan, conducted Friday prayer in one of the Jumat mosques in Kusada, in defiance of the directives.

“Subsequently, he was arrested for questioning at Area Commander’s office, Malumfashi, which did not go down well with some of his followers.

“Consequently, today, March 28, 2020, at about 09:00hrs, this particular group organised themselves in such a tumultuous manner, rioting and attacked the police station and over-powered the policemen on duty at Kusada Division.

“They set ablaze the police station and DPO’s Quarters,” he said.

All I can say to this is, so much for the oft made and equally often unproven claim that Islam is a ‘religion of peace’.