The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has expressed displeasure at the gruesome killing of a female student, Deborah Samuel Yakubu, of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto State.

The forum stated that the attendant mass looting and violent protest at the weekend by youths demanding the release of suspects over the killing prognosticate grimmer days ahead.

The National President, MBF, Dr Pogu Bitrus lamented, “The outrageous murder of yet another citizen is one too many, considering previous records where people were killed on account of alleged blasphemy. Deborah’s murder last week over alleged blasphemy as contained in her voice note she posted on a Whatsapp platform portrays the growing intolerance of religious issues in the north.”

According to the statement, before what the forum called “last Thursday’s grisly murder”, a secondary school teacher in Gombe State, Mrs Christian Oluwatoyin Oluwasesin, on March 21, 2007, was killed by her own students over allegations that she blasphemed against Islam by desecrating the Qur’an, saying that in a fit of religious indignation, Mrs. Oluwasesin was gruesomely murdered in broad daylight.

It stated that over nine years later, on June 2, 2016, a Kano-based 74-year trader of kitchen utensils, Mrs Bridget Agbahime, was killed when she protested against a Muslim performing ablution in front of her shop.

It added, “In yet another fit of anger, the man instantly called on his fellow Muslims to administer instant mob justice on Mrs Agbahime for blasphemy. She was murdered without finding out if what she said amounted to blasphemy as alleged by her accusers who also judged and condemned her to be killed. Till date, the perpetrators are yet to be brought to justice.

Hope that justice may come her way someday has fizzled out as the suspects were released by the court unconditionally as requested by the Kano State Government for no reason. The husband of the late trader was later forced to relocate to his home state in the South for fear of being killed over his quest for justice for his murdered spouse.”

The forum noted that a month later, on July 9, 2016, an early morning preacher on the streets of Kubwa in Abuja, Mrs Eunice Elisha, was killed, stressing that attempts to bring her killers to book have not yielded any positive fruit.

It said that though not accused of any blasphemy, the silence of the state over the killing of citizens on account of their faith may have encouraged Mrs Elisha’s murderers to snuff life out of her.

The statement explained that the government’s inability or refusal to bring perpetrators to justice over previous killings of citizens is thus responsible for the bloodshed by religious mobs, saying that as a country governed by laws, there cannot be any justification for the killing without following due process.

It noted that even in Islamic nations, there are processes for determining what constitutes blasphemy, saying that when a mob simply puts to death someone they accuse of blasphemy; such an act amounts to criminality that has been encouraged by the state’s incapacity in bringing to book killers of people alleged to have committed blasphemy in the past.

To demonstrate the fact that those who are engaged in killing Nigerians on account of alleged blasphemy enjoy overwhelming support, the statement explained that youths at the weekend poured into the streets of Sokoto demanding the release of suspects detained by the police over the killing of Deborah.

It explained that churches came under attacks, with looting and destruction unleashed by these youths, adding that the Sokoto incident reveals the dour reality that our ability to remain united under a secular system is being tested.

The forum commended Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State for the swift move in imposing a 24-hour curfew on the city to avert further destruction and loss of lives and called on security forces to ensure that justice comes the way of Deborah whose barbaric killing has sent waves of crippling shocks throughout the world.

It noted that the manner this case is handled would signal if the government is indeed serious in tackling religion-related crises in the North threatening the corporate existence of the nation.

It suggested that the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari must not equivocate on this matter that is leading to rising tension in the country and global outrage, saying that as the umbrella organisation for all ethnic nationalities in the Middle Belt, the President must rise up and stop Nigeria’s journey to a religious crisis that has the potential of disintegration.

It stated that considering the activities of those who looted and wreaked violence on Sokoto in the guise of demanding the release of suspects, it is now clear that criminals were responsible for the death of Deborah.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (19 Northern States and Abuja) has called on federal and state authorities not to cover up the killing of a young Christian student, Deborah Samuel, who was gruesomely murdered in Sokoto last week, under disturbing circumstances.

Northern CAN’s Publicity Secretary, Chaplain Jechonia Gilbert, made the call in a statement, said Northern CAN believes that Nigeria is a country governed by the rule of law and order. Therefore, any act of lawlessness and criminality must not be swept under the carpet.

The statement reads, “The Christian Association of Nigeria (19 Northern States and Abuja) is deeply saddened over the recent ugly development in Sokoto State, that led to the gruesome murder of Miss Deborah Samuel, a 200 Level female student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto for an alleged blasphemy.

“The umbrella organisation of all Christians in Northern Nigeria condemn this gruesome and barbaric murder of Deborah in the strongest terms possible.

“While CAN does not and will not encourage casting aspersions on any Religion or religious leader of any faith, CAN frowns at hiding under the gab of any religious extremism to perpetrate any form of criminality against her members especially in Northern Nigeria. God Almighty is not and can never be a weak God for a mere mortal to fight and defend Him.

“On the contrary, it is He who keeps, watches and defends us. CAN believe that life is sacred and must never be taken by another unless as directed by the State.

“The CAN (19 Northern States and Abuja) is calling on the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Sokoto State government under governor Aminu Tambuwal not to resort to the government usual rhetoric but must demonstrate political will and capacity to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice; otherwise, others may take queues from this and turn our fatherland to a country of lawlessness at every slightest provocation.

“CAN, 19 Northern States, is calling on every christian parents across the nation, especially Northern states to discourage sending their children to any school in Sokoto State, pending when the Federal and State governments are ready and willing to secure the lives of our children both in Sokoto and other States that are hostile to Christians and Christianity.

“We are urging all Christian leaders to terminate their participation in Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), until their counterparts of Islamic faith show commitment to tame their followers on equal terms.

“Northern CAN prays for the immediate family and indeed the church of late Deborah Samuel not to lose hope in God’s ability to avenge the killers of their daughter.

“We appeal and counsel those who feel and think that killing and oppressing Christians is a demonstration of their service to their God to learn from history. Those that tried it in Egypt and their experiences should be enough warning. There is a Red Sea awaiting them, even those who are secretly encouraging them, must partake in the Red Sea Experience.”

The Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has announced the review of the earlier 24-hour curfew imposed on the state following the violence that trailed the protest embarked upon by some residents of the state earlier on Saturday.

According to a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information, Isah Galadanci, and made available to newsmen in the state on Monday morning, the government review the curfew from 24 hours to now dusk to dawn.

This he said was to enable residents of the state to embark on their legitimate business in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Sequel to the briefing by the Security Heads in the State, the State Governor, Rt Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, CFR Mutawallen Sokoto, has ordered the relaxation of the 24-hour curfew in force in Sokoto metropolis.

“The revised curfew will now be from dusk to dawn in Sokoto township. This is to afford people the opportunity to pursue their legitimate businesses and other means of livelihood.

“The Government, however, advises people to maintain peace in this regard, as it will not condone any breach of law and order in the State.”

The Zamfara State Commissioner for Religious Affairs who is also the Chief Imam of the Muslims Foundation mosque, Sheikh Sani Tukur Jangebe has condemned the lynching and gruesome murder of Deborah Samuel of the Sokoto State College of Education.

The Islamic cleric advised Muslims to abide by the teachings and lessons of Islam, saying even the prophet Mohammed, underwent several insults and humiliations but did not order the killing of his adversaries.

He said it is a very great sin for any Muslim to take such laws into his or her hands, saying that Allah did not ordain such Islamic injunction.

While delivering his Friday sermon, the Muslim cleric asked the faithful to always obey the injunctions of the Islamic teachings so that Allah would divinely intervene in the current security challenges being faced by the State.

There was pandemonium in some parts of Sokoto State on Saturday as some residents, believed to be Muslims, stormed the streets protesting the arrest of the suspected killers of Deborah Samuel, who was lynched on Thursday for allegedly insulting Prophet Mohammed.

According to SaharaReporters, the protesters attacked some churches along Ahmadu Bello Way in the state capital, while demanding the release of the suspects.

A Catholic church and a building of the Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA, were reportedly destroyed by the protesters.

Some shops belonging to indigenes of the southeast who reside in the area were also destroyed during the incident.

Efforts to reach the Sokoto State Police Command failed as the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sanusi did not take calls and repeatedly shunned text messages forwarded to him.

Meanwhile, the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has imposed a 24-hour curfew to curtail the riot.

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has tasked the Federal Government and the Sokoto State Government to treat as terrorists sympathisers, the riotous youths in the streets of Sokoto State protesting for the release of killers of Deborah Samuel Yakubu.

HURIWA warned that any attempt to free the suspects will send the signal that Sokoto and the President Muhammadu Buhari administration are also sympathetic to terrorists.

HURIWA reminded the Sokoto State Government and the Federal Government that sympathisers of terrorists are committing egregious offence against the Nigerian State and must be appropriately handled in compliance with the counter terrorism law.

HURIWA, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said: ” Can these protesters seriously have a rethink that if their sister was the victim, Deborah Emmanuel, a 200 level female student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, that was mobbed and killed before her remains were set ablaze within the school premises on Thursday, will they be ready to pour out on the streets in solidarity with these primitive killers who took the law into their hands and behaved just like terrorists that they are to take the life of a citizen in a Country in which section 33(1) of the Grund Norm emphatically prohibits EXTRALEGAL EXECUTION OF ACCUSED PERSONS?

“What those killers of Deborah did is pure and simple terrorism and mobster murder and must never be swept under the carpets if we are prepared to remain together in one Country. The security agents must treat the protesters demanding that murderers be freed as sympathisers of terrorists and what they are doing is not captured under the fundamental human rights provision that permits for freedom of expression because freedom of expression does not permit aiding and abetting terrorist crime of broad day lynching of a young girl to death over alleged blasphemy that is unproven and untested in Court.

“In fact the protesters are enemies of free speech because they want murderers who killed a girl for expressing her belief in Christ Jesus captured under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Chapter 4 of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria as specified under the RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF RELIGION. Deborah from all available evidence did not blasphem the religion of Islam and the laws of Nigeria regards lynching the type these Sokoto mobsters committed and recorded in videos circulating on the social media as TERRORISM”.

HURIWA said it thinks the Sokoto State governor has done well by declaring 24 hours curfew but “we must warn that those who killed Deborah Samuel Yakubu must be made to face the full wrath of the law as murderers and on no account should the unruly mobs of protesters be allowed to free the suspected killers that publicly confessed in recorded videos going viral that they killed Deborah Samuel Yakubu. The Governor of Sokoto State and the Armed Forces of Nigeria must not be overwhelmed by the antics of the sympathisers of terrorists in Sokoto. Enough is enough!”

Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal has declared 24-hour curfew in the state following massive protest for the release of arrested suspects in the murder of Deborah Samuel on Thursday.

Muslim extremists at the Shehu Shagari College of Education burnt Deborah to death over alleged blasphemy against Muhammed on Thursday at the school premises.

Following the killing, policemen arrested some suspects in connection with the killing of the Christian student.

On Saturday morning, massive protests rocked Sokoto as thousands of protesters demanded the release of the killers of Deborah, as the metropolis was grounded.

However, Tambuwal, in a statement slammed Sokoto metropolis and others with 24-hour curfew to restore law and order in the state.

“Following the sad incident that happened at the Shehu Shagari College of Education on Thursday and sequel to the developments within (Sokoto) metropolis this morning till afternoon, by the powers conferred on me by sections 176(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; and section 1 and 4 of the Public Order Act; and, also Section 15 of Sokoto State Peace Preservation Law, I hereby declare, with immediate effect, a curfew within (Sokoto) metropolis of Sokoto township for the next 24 hours,” he said.

He appealed to the people of Sokoto State to kindly continue to observe law and order and calm down the restiveness currently pervading in the metropolis.

“Everyone should, please, in the interest of peace go back home and observe this measures, with a view of the reestablishment of peace, law and order in the state.

“It is not in the interest of anyone for us to have a breakdown of law and order. I, therefore, appeal for restraint; and, for people to observe and respect the rule of law,” Tambuwal said.

The Sultan of Sokoto’s Palace was on Saturday under siege by the youth demanding the release of the alleged killers of Deborah Samuel.

The student, Deborah Yakubu, was killed in a mob outrage, with the state government immediately closing down the school while police announced the arrest of two persons in connection with the incident.

The protests were caused by an alleged religious blasphemy made by Deborah, a student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, against the Islamic religion through a social media channel.

A combined team of security men, led by State Police Commissioner, Mr Kamaludden Okunlola, was deployed to the palace while protesters threw stones and attempted to burn the palace.

All the religious centres were also under tight security.

Meanwhile, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State on Saturday imposed 24 hours curfew to contain the rising protests across township streets over alleged religious blasphemy.

Tambuwal, in a broadcast, called on the people to remain indoors as security operatives were being deployed to safeguard lives and properties.

”By the powers conferred on me by sections 176(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and sections 1 and 4 of the Public Order Act; and, also Section 15 of Sokoto State Peace Preservation Law, I hereby declare, with immediate effect, a curfew within (Sokoto) metropolis for the next 24 hours,” Tambuwal declared.

He further appealed to the people of the state to kindly continue to observe law and order and calm down the restiveness currently pervading the metropolis.

”Everyone should please, in the interest of peace, go back home and observe these measures, to reestablish peace, law and order in the state.

”It is not in the interest of anyone for us to have a breakdown of law and order. I, therefore, appeal for restraint and, for people to observe and respect the rule of law,” he said.

Groups of youths have taken over the streets, chanting songs and urging security agents to release the arrested persons.

The protesters burnt tyres on popular Ahmadu Bello Way, Emir Yahaya road, Kanwuri and other streets, forcing shop owners to close midday while most streets became empty.