Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, has imposed a 24-hour curfew on the state, following the violent protest by youths who were demanding the release of two suspects arrested in connection with the killing of Deborah Samuel.
The governor said in a statement: “Following the sad incident that happened at the Shehu Shagari College of Education, on Thursday, and sequel to development within the metropolis this morning, by the powers of section 176(2) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and also section 15 of Sokoto state peace preservation law, I hereby declare a curfew within the Sokoto metropolis for the next 24 hours.
“I appeal to the good people of Sokoto State to kindly continue to observe law and order and calm down (on 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. Thank you very much.”
Deborah, a 200-level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, was killed and set ablaze by a mob for alleged blasphemy, on Thursday.
Her killing had sparked outrage and condemnation across the country, with Nigerians asking the government to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
The state police command subsequently announced the arrest of two suspects in connection with the killing.
But on Saturday morning, some Muslim youths took to the streets to protest against the arrest of the suspects.
Armed with placards with various inscriptions, such as: “Release our Muslim brothers”, “Muslims Are Not Terrorists”, “Peaceful riot”, the youths asked the police to release the arrested suspects.
The placard-carrying Muslim youths reportedly began a protest in Sokoto on Saturday morning and demanded the release of two suspects arrested in connection with the gruesome murder of Deborah Yakubu, a 200-level Home Economics student of Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto.
Deborah was mauled and burnt to death on Thursday on the school premises for alleged blasphemy of Prophet Mohammed (SAW).
The Christian youth was reportedly murdered in the most barbaric manner and her killers had gleefully posted videos of the act on social media.
The police in Sokoto had confirmed the killing of Deborah by her Muslim colleagues on campus and the Muslim youths had protested on Saturday, clashing with security operatives who fired shots to disperse the surging demonstrators.
The youths, reportedly met at the Gawon Nama Roundabout at 9am, where the protest started.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Sokoto, Sanusi Abubabar, confirmed the protest in a telephone interview with The Punch on Saturday; saying: “We are on top of the situation,” he told our correspondent, adding that the police authorities in Sokoto are in talks with leaders of thoughts and opinion moulders in the state.”
Many civil society groups and lawyers have condemned the murder of Deborah while some persons have defended the mob action.
Sokoto, a state in Nigeria’s North-West has a more Muslim population than Christians and there have been cases of sectarian strife and religion-triggered extrajudicial killings.
Meanwhile, the school has been closed down pending the investigation of the incident.
