A photo of a “12-year-old boy” whose two hands were allegedly amputated for phone theft has been trending on social media, stirring outrage and renewed attacks on Shari’ah law in Northern Nigeria.
However, Muslim News Nigeria investigations reveal that the viral narrative is false and misleading.
It appears to be a deliberate attempt to discredit the divine legal system of Shari’ah and support ongoing calls for its abolition, a campaign being amplified by the United States under another unverified claim of a so-called Christian genocide in Nigeria.
Ironically, the false narrative is resurfacing at a time when Muslims in parts of Southern Nigeria are peacefully advocating for their constitutional right to establish Shari’ah court of appeal to govern their personal and civil affairs, in line with their faith.
Critics including a Christian propagandist and content creator, George Udom, have circulated the photo alongside inflammatory commentary, attributing the incident to Shari’ah law and using it to vilify the Islamic legal system. 
The image was featured in a report by The Punch, a newspaper many Muslims perceive as promoting Islamophobic narratives. Although the newspaper did not directly state that the amputation was carried out under Shari’ah law, that claim was amplified by online propagandists.
Nonetheless, the newspaper made a significant factual error. In its initial report published on May 27, 2024, the boy was described as a 12-year-old.
However, in a follow-up article published on December 31, 2024, The Punch reported that the same individual is now 21 years old. This contradiction raises serious questions about the newspaper’s credibility and the accuracy of the story itself.
The case, based on available facts, appears to be a “personal dispute between the boy and his uncle”, and not a matter adjudicated under Shari’ah law.
Following the spread of a disturbing image, Daily Trust later provided clarification in a subsequent report titled “20 year old man whose hands were amputated by uncle seeks justice.” (image 4). 
According to the story, the victim’s uncle, Buba, allegedly tied him up and cut off his hands over a missing phone worth N50,000.
In Islamic law, no individual has the authority to carry out punishments. Justice under Shari’ah must be delivered by the state after thorough investigation, due process, and stringent evidentiary requirements.
Moreover, the claim that this was a Shari’ah-sanctioned punishment falls apart under basic scrutiny. In classical Islamic jurisprudence: Amputation, where applicable, is carried out at the wrist, not in the gruesome manner shown.
It is rarely enforced due to strict preconditions, including:
– The stolen item must be of significant value.
– It must be taken from a secure place.
– The theft must not be driven by necessity or hunger.
– The offence must be proven beyond doubt, either by confession or clear evidence.
Clearly, none of these legal protocols were followed in this case.
The misuse of this story to attack Shari’ah is not only dishonest but also undermines efforts to ensure justice and religious understanding in Nigeria.
By Rasheed Abubakar, Publisher, Muslim News Nigeria
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