Blasphemy: Police Confirm Arrest Of Two Persons In Sokoto

…As Kukah, Sultan condemn killing

The Sokoto State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two persons in connection with the killing of a female student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, over alleged blasphemous statement.

This was contained in a press statement signed by the Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Sanusi Abubakar, and made available to newsmen in the state on Thursday.

“At about 0900hrs, a distress call was received from the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, stating that students were rioting over one female student named Deborah Samuel, a 200 level student, who was accused of making a social media post that blasphemed the holy prophet Muhammad (SAW).

“Students forcefully removed the victim from the security room where she was hidden by the school authorities, killed her and burnt the building. The students banded together with miscreants and barricaded the Sokoto/Jega road.

“Upon receiving the information, the DC Operations led a team of policemen and all other operational commanders in the state to the school, where the road was cleared and the situation was brought under control.

“Two students were arrested in connection with the crime committed. The school has been closed down by the school authority, and policemen were deployed to give tight security coverage,” the statement partly read.The statement further said the State Commissioner of Police, CP Kamaldeen Okunlola, is appealing to members of the public to go about their lawful activities and should not panic as the situation is under control.

He further assured that the suspects in the viral video on Twitter were spotted, and will be nailed soon.

Reacting to the incident, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, in a press statement signed on his behalf by the secretary of the Sultanate Council, Sa’idu Muhammadu Maccido, condemned the killing in its totality.

“Sultanate Council has learnt with dismay the unfortunate happenings at the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, that led to the loss of life a female student of the institution.

“The Sultanate council condemned the incident in its totality and has urged the security agencies to bring perpetrators of the unjustifiable incident to justice,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese of the Catholic Church, Bishop Mathew Kukah, while condemning the act, also called on authorities to investigate and ensure that all the culprits were brought to book.

According to a statement signed by Bishop Kukah and made available to our correspondent, “the only obligation that is owed her immediate family, her fellow students and the school authority is the assurance that those who are guilty of this inhuman act, no matter their motivation, are punished according to the extant laws of our land.

“This has nothing to do with religion. Christians have lived peacefully with their Muslim neighbours here in Sokoto over the years.

“This matter must be treated as a criminal act and the law must take its cause.”

Kukah, however, called on Christians in Sokoto and environs to remain calm and to pray for the repose of the soul of the deceased.