The media space was greeted with outrage following the gruesome killing of one, Debora Yakubu, a student of Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto state by her fellow students over alleged blasphemy. It was gathered that the victim made a blasphemous comment in their student's WhatsApp group over a heated argument that lead to the ugly incident. It was reported that one of the students in the group posted religious stuff on the platform that lead Debora into attacking the person for using the academic platform for religion which degenerated into a heated argument, and Debora lost her temper by making a blasphemous comment against prophet Muhammad (SAW) of Islam.
Another source revealed that the victim made the blasphemy while having an argument with her fellow students.
The source said, “She was asked to apologize but refused. This heightened tension in the school. The college security men intervened by whisking her to their office but they were overpowered by the students who later killed her and set her body ablaze.”
Subsequently, the Sokoto state government reacted by directing the school management to shut down the school to avoid further breakdown of order.
The closure order was announced by the state Commissioner for Information, Isa Bajini Galadanchi at a press conference.
The Commissioner in his statement said Governor Aminu Tambuwal had directed the state’s Ministry of Higher Education and relevant security agencies to investigate the matter.
Meanwhile, the police authority in the state has revealed that two persons have already been arrested in connection with the crime, while a manhunt has been activated to track down the remaining culprits.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Sanusi Abubakar, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, said some students of the institution barricaded the Sokoto-Jega Road after the killing.
In the meantime, the police deployed their men in the area to calm the situation.
Our correspondents reported that heavy security men deployed to the school were seen directing students to immediately pack their belongings and leave the school premises.
Meanwhile, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has condemned the killing of the female student.
The Monarch through its secretary demands the authorities fish out perpetrators of the crime and punish them.
He called on all and sundry, to give peace a chance by living peaceful coexistence amongst themselves, the state, and the country at large.
Also, the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah, who condemned the killing, said it had nothing to do with religion.
The cleric in a statement issued in Sokoto said Muslims and Christians had lived together peacefully for a long time while describing those behind the incident as criminals that need to be tamed.
The statement reads, “This has nothing to do with Religion. Christians have lived peacefully with their Muslim neighbors here in Sokoto over the years. This matter must be treated as a criminal act and the law must take its cause,”