A 200-level student of the Department of Home Economics of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, SSCOE, Sokoto, in Sokoto State, Deborah Yakubu, has been reportedly killed by an angry mob, in the early hours of Thursday, for allegedly blaspheming Prophet Muhammad.
An anonymous eyewitness said trouble started when there was a heated argument on the departmental Whatsapp platform, between the deceased and her colleague.
The arguments later attracted the attention of the angry mob, who pelted the lady with stones, killing and setting her body ablaze.
The Sokoto State Commissioner For Information, Isah Galadanchi, in a press briefing, described the incident as unfortunate.
The information commissioner said, his principal, Governor Aminu Tambuwal who is away, has directed that an investigation into the matter be carried out immediately by the Ministry of Higher Education, to unravel those behind the dastardly act.
He urged everybody to remain calm, as the government would do everything, to unravel the circumstances behind the incident.
Galadanchi added that the state government has directed the immediate closure of the institution, to forestall the breakdown of law and order.
At the time of filing this report, military personnel have already been deployed to the college premises and other schools in the area.
In another development, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, condemned the incident in totality.
According to the Sultan, nobody has the right to take the law into his or her hands.
He, therefore, asked the law enforcement agencies to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
