Alleged Blasphemy: Police Confirm Arrest of Two Persons

……As Bishop Kukah Condemns Killings

Gbolahan Salman Sokoto

The Nigerian Police Force, Sokoto State command has confirmed the arrest of two persons related to the killing of a student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, over allegedly blasphemous statement.

This is contained in a press statement signed by the command public relations officer, ASP Sanusi Abubakar, and made available to newsmen in the state on Thursday.

“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 statement further said the state Commissioner of Police, CP Kamaldeen kola Okunlola, is appealing to members of the public to go about their lawful activities and should not panic as the situation is under control.

He further assured that the suspects in the viral video on Twitter were spotted, will be nailed soon.

Meanwhile, the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, while condemning the act also called on the authorities to investigate and ensure that all the culprits are brought to book.

According to a statement signed by Bishop Kukah and made available to our correspondent, “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 it’s cause”

Kukah however call on Christian in Sokoto and around to remain calm and to please pray for the repose of the soul of the deceased.