Christian Youth Seeks Justice for Deborah, Condemns Violence Against Non-Muslims

By Jide Afolabi

Youths of the Nigerian Baptist Convention have called on the government to ensure justice for Deborah Samuel who was killed by Muslim fundamentalists in Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto.

The youths also urged the government especially, the Sokoto state government to stop the violence against Christians which has reportedly led to the burning of Churches, and wanton loot of businesses and houses.

The youths under the aegis of the Nigerian Baptist Convention Youth Conference, NBCYC, in a statement signed by its President, Pastor Enunuaye Onajite noted that all killers and their accessories must face the full wrath of the law to serve as a deterrent to other extremists.

He said “The killing of our sister, Deborah Samuel at Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto in the name of religion came to us as a rude shock.

“We still cannot process how a reasonable human being would beat, stone, kill and burn a young lady in the name of religion. This is ungodly, unholy, unconstitutional, barbaric, and unreligious. Such should never happen in the 21st century.

“No sane government would allow such heinous crimes to go unpunished. Recent experiences have shown that similar killings in the past have been swept under the carpet and that’s why we are calling in President Muhammadu Buhari and the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal to ensure that Deborah gets justice.

“Lack of prosecution of previous offenders has emboldened the criminals to further kill non-Muslims, especially, helpless Christian youths and women in the region. This must stop.” He said.

The youths also stressed their readiness to participate in the proposed mass protest declared by the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, saying that Baptist youths would be fully involved in the protest across the country and abroad.

The protest aimed at drawing the attention of the government to the senseless killings targeted at Christians and also used the medium to pray for peace in Nigeria.