Alleged Blasphemy: Sokoto Govt. Orders Investigation, Fails To Condemn Student’s Killers

The Sokoto state government says it has ordered a full blown investigation into the death of a female student that was stoned and burnt to death over alleged blasphemous statements.

The tragic event took place at the Shehu Shagari College of Education (SSCOE) Sokoto on Wednesday.

The killing has been met with lots of outrage among Nigerians after a video of the dastardly act was shared on social media.

Reacting to the killing, the Sokoto state government in a statement seen by odunews.com noted that an investigation has begun to ascertain the event surrounding the act. The statement however fails to condemn the killers some of whose faces have since been shared on social media.

“Already, the State Governor Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has directed the Ministry of Higher Education, and relevant Security agencies in the State to commence investigations into the remote and immediate causes of the incident and report back to the Government”, the statement reads.

“Meanwhile, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has called on the people of the State to remain calm and maintain peace, as the Government would take appropriate actions on the findings of the investigations by the relevant authority”, the statement signed by the state’s commissioner for information, Isah Bajini Galadanci reads.

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah also reacts to the murder of Deborah, said “I have received with deep shock the news of the tragedy that has occurred in the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, leading to the gruesome murder of Ms Deborah Yakubu, a 200 level Home Economics Student today.

“We condemn this incident in the strongest terms and call on the authorities to investigate this tragedy and ensure that all the culprits are brought to book. The only obligation that is owed her immediate family, her fellow students and the school authorities 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.

“Meanwhile, I wish to call on all Christians in Sokoto and around to remain calm and to please pray for the repose of the soul of Ms. Deborah. It is the first obligation we owe her. May God grant her eternal rest and console her immediate family.”