Killing in Sokoto school has nothing to do with religion – Bishop Kukah

By OUR REPORTER

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev Fr Matthew Kukah, has condemned the killing of a female student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, over alleged blasphemy.

The DEFENDER had reported Thursday that one Deborah Yakubu, a 200-level Home Economics Student of the institution, was killed Thursday morning on allegation that she blasphemed Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

But in a statement issued in Sokoto, Kukah said Muslims and Christians in the state had lived together peacefully for a long time and described those behind the barbaric act as criminals serving no religious purposes.

“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 (Thursday).

“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,” he said

He, however, called 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.”

Earlier before Kukah, the Sultanate Council Sokoto had condemned the killing even as it called on security agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice.

In a statement by Alhaji Sa’idu Muhammadu Maccido, Danburam Sokoto and Secretary to the Sultanate Council, the Caliphate also urged the public to “remain calm and ensure peaceful co-existence among all people of the state and nation”.

In the meantime, Sokoto State Police Command has announced the arrest of two suspects over the killing.

In a statement on the incident, Sanusi Abubakar, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), said operatives had been deployed to the area.

“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),” the statement read.

“Students forcefully removed the victim from the security room where she was hidden by the school authorities, killed her and burnt the building.

The police said, “The students together with miscreants 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 fdc, mnim, is appealing to members of the public to go about their lawful activities and should not panic as the situation is under control.

“Meanwhile, the suspects in the viral video on Twitter were spotted and will be nailed soon.”