Nigerians on Thursday demanded justice for a yet-to-be-identified female student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto State after she was mobbed and burnt by some students of the school for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
This is as the school’s management also directed the immediate closure of the school following the incident.
The incident was said to have taken place on Thursday morning. The female student, it was learnt, was beaten to death and subsequently burnt by fanatical Muslim students in the school for alleged blasphemy.
A source who spoke with our correspondent in the state confirmed that the deceased, named Deborah, was alleged to have used a blasphemous language.
“She (the deceased) was having an argument with some of her schoolmates over their ongoing examination and when she was asked how she managed to pass her exams.
“She was asked to withdraw the statement and apologise which she refused.
“The school security intervened, and took her to their post but they were overpowered by the students after which she was killed in the process.
“After killing her, she was burnt down on the school premises”, the source said.
But the school’s management in a circular dated May 12, 2022, while announcing the immediate closure of the college, described the incident as an “early morning students rampage”.
The circular read, “Following today’s early morning students rampage in the college, the College Management has resolved to close down the college indefinitely with immediate effect. Consequently, all students are hereby directed to vacate the college campus immediately (May 12, 2022).”
Outraged by the incident, Nigerians on Twitter asked the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure justice is served.
See reactions:
@aproko_doctor wrote, “Video of that female student murdered in Sokoto by a mob for “religious reasons” is proof that we have a long way to go in this country. Her murderers made a video about it, knowing that nothing will happen to them. They’d even be praised in certain quarters. The year is 2022.”
@SavvyRinu, “A female student was killed by her own people in Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto today. According to them, she insulted the prophet. She was murdered in a school & the school authorities couldn’t intervene. What kind of country is this?
@TheFavouredWoman – “A female student of Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto has been reportedly beaten and burnt to death for ‘religious blasphemy.’ Video is gory and horrible. You hear news like this, and remember that this country’s issues are bigger than our economic woes.”
@Letter_to_Jack – “All the boys whose faces appeared in that tragic trending video from Sokoto state will have elevated status in their society as a result, they will be tagged heroes and tipped for greatness. In a few years, they will occupy powerful seats. That’s the way it works in the North. ?”
@FarooqKperogi – “Murderers of Christian Woman in Sokoto Must Be Arrested & Punished! I just watched a bloodcurdling video clip of a bunch of murderous, maniacal brutes murdering & burning a Christian woman at the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto because she allegedly blasphemed Islam.”
@AishaYesufu – “If you are one of those that lynch thieves just take this moment to know that you and those Sokoto students who killed their fellow student are the same. Hope you use this as a mirror into your despicable acts. No one has the right in anyway whatsoever to kill another. No one!
@Belshagy – “Any mob action anywhere killing anyone for any reason is wrong, barbaric and un-Islamic. The sooner our ulama wakes up to educate people on sensitive issues like these the better. The mob action against the lady in Sokoto is most unfortunate and completely condemned.”
@OgbeniDipo – “Some of the faces of the criminal religious fanatics and animals who stoned and burnt a female student of Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto today were visible. I hope arrests are made and they get prosecuted.”
@mrmacaronii – “According to multiple reports, Deborah, a female student of Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, accused of blasphemy was killed and burnt. This is what happens when there are no consequences for actions in society. The government must wake up from their slumber!!”
Meanwhile, Governor Aminu Tambuwal has ordered the immediate closure of the state school over the incident.
Tambuwal, in a statement by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Isah Bajini Galandanci, also directed the Ministry of Higher Education and relevant security agencies in the state to commence investigations into the cause of the unfortunate incident.
“It has come to the notice of the Sokoto State Government, the unfortunate incident that took place at the Shehu Shagari College of Education (SSCOE), Sokoto in which a student of the college lost her life.
“The government has ordered immediate closure of the college.
“The governor 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 Government”
Tambuwal, however, called on the people of the state to remain calm and maintain peace while assuring the residents that the government would take appropriate actions on the findings of the investigations by the relevant authority.
