The Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto State has been shut down after what appears to be a religiously-motivated riot, that led to the gruesome killing of a 200-level student, Deborah Yakubu.
In a video of the incident seen by AIT, the young student was seen being stoned and clobbered with sticks as her body lay motionless.
AIT gathered that the act was motivated by a claim of blasphemy, with a mob resorting to the violent attack.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto has described the act as “murder.”
In a statement signed by Most Reverend Matthew Hassan Kukah, the diocese “condemned the incident in the strongest terms”, with a “call on the authorities to investigate the tragedy, and ensure all the culprits are brought to book.”
The statement says the only obligation that is owed to the family of Deborah and her fellow students, is the assurance that those guilty of the inhuman act, no matter their motivation, are punished according to extant laws.
It, however, says the act has nothing to do with religion, maintaining that Christians have lived in peace with their Muslim neighbours in Sokoto State for years.
The diocese urges all Christians in Sokoto to remain calm, and pray for the repose of Deborah’s soul.
Also, the Sultan of Sokoto has condemned the incident, calling on “security agencies to bring perpetrators of the unjustifiable incident to justice.”
A statement signed by the secretary of the sultanate council of Sokoto, Sa’idu Maccido, appeals for all to remain calm and ensure peaceful coexistence among all the people of the state and the nation.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
