Sokoto college student killed over alleged blasphemy, school shut

A female student of Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto has been killed by a mob over alleged blasphemy.

The situation has forced the authorities of the school to shut the institution indefinitely.

The student, identified as Deborah Samuel, in level two, was said to have been attacked by a mob over a comment considered an insult to Prophet Muhammad.

It is understood that the incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday.

Trouble reportedly started when the lady was asked by her colleagues how she managed to pass her exams.

The student was said to have attributed her academic excellence to Jesus.

The source said she was asked to withdraw the statement — to which she refused.

This reportedly made the mob attack her and then set her body ablaze

The college thus directed all students to vacate its campus immediately.

“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 (12th may, 2022),” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the Sokoto State police command has given the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate killing of Deborah Samuel by some religious bigots.

Police Public Relations Officer, Sokoto Command, ASP Sanusi Abubakar, in a statement, said two students had been arrested in connection with the killing.

The statement read, “At about 0900hrs, a distress call was received from Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, stating that students were rioting over one female student named Deborah Samuel, a level two 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 Commissioner of Police, Sokoto State Command, CP Kamaldeen kola Okunlola, appealed to members of the public not to panic as the situation was under control.