Buhari “urged religious and community leaders to call citizens’ attention to the need to exercise the right to freedom of speech responsibly.”
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday finally reacted to the gruesome murder of Miss Deborah Samuel, a second year Home Economics student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto by Muslim Fundamentalists.
The President’s reaction came more than 36 hours after the dastardly act.
Though Buhari condemned the killing, he nonetheless urged religious and community leaders to call citizens’ attention to the need to exercise the right to freedom of speech responsibly.
Buhari reacted through a series of tweets titled: State House Press Release: President Buhari reacts to Sokoto Killing linked to alleged blasphemy, says violence does not solve problems.”
The statement which came through the official Federal Government Twitter handle, Presidency Nigeria @NGRPresident, reads:
“President @MBuhari strongly condemns the resort to self-help by the mob in sokoto, resulting in violence, destruction and killing of a second year student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Deborah Samuel following an allegation that she had blasphemed Muhammad (SAW), the Prophet of Islam on Thursday.
“President Buhari said the news of the killing of the young lady by fellow students was a matter of concern and demanded an impartial, extensive probe into all that happened before and during the incident.
READ ALSO: MURIC condemns Sokoto killer mob, then blames Deborah Samuel for provoking them
“The President noted that Muslims all over the world demand respect for the Holy Prophets, incl Isah (Alaihissalaam, Jesus Christ) & Muhammad (SAW) but where transgressions occur, as alleged to be the case in this instance, the law does not allow anyone take matters into their hands.
“Moreover, religious leaders preach that it is not for the believer to judge the actions of another person. The constituted authority must be allowed to deal with such matters when they arise.
“No person has the right to take the law in his or her own hands in this country. Violence has and never will solve any problem,” said the President.
Buhari also directed the Ministries of Information and Culture, Police Affairs and that of Communications and Digital Economy to work with GSM providers and Tech companies to help contain the spread of false and inflammatory information through social media.
“The President extended the nation’s condolences to the family of the deceased student and wished all those injured a quick recovery. He commended the immediate response to the incident by the Sokoto State Government and urged religious and community leaders to call citizens’ attention to the need to exercise the right to freedom of speech responsibly,” the statement further read.
“President Buhari called for tempered comments by the media and calm among the general population while investigation is ongoing to find out the remote and immediate causes of the incident.”
However, most Nigerians who responded to the tweet were not impressed. They insisted that statement was neither here nor there having not called for the arrest and prosecution of the culprits.
Some wondered what more Buhari wanted to investigate when the murderers recorded their heinous act, thus providing the evidence.
Some of the responses read:
“People like me laugh when @MBuhari says he is fighting corruption and insecurity.. This thread stinks of religious bias and it shows the regime’s priority. I don’t think Buhari understands what Nigerians want and need.”
“That’s what they know how to do best…..react. where were the police who were supposed to protect the life of that poor girl. They deliberately allowed her to be lynched and set ablaze, then they came to react. They are all together in it. Don’t be deceived.”
“How many people have they arrested so far?”
“Self help” abi murder”
“Let us practice the sharia law, whosoever kill must be kill too… We await your judgement on this issue @MBuhari.”
“Not a single phrase on bringing the perpetrators to justice.”
“Carefully refused to include “that the perpetrators will be brought to book and sentenced appropriately.” Killers should be given the appropriate sentence, nothing less. Equal rights and justice for everyone.”
“Why is there no part where bringing the perpetrators to book is mentioned? Or do we think that investigating what happened prior to the event May bring some extenuating circumstances to light and somehow justify the barbaric action?”
“Dear @MBuhari there’s no place you outrightly condemned the act without a clause, your statement is filled with suspense. trying to see where you will say ” The perpetrator will be brought to book or punished. Sorry for the state called Nigeria.”
“@NGRPresident Justice is the right word, and that school need to be shut down. Action Required not statement to address people. If it where to in the south east there would be operation python dance, please create operation alligator dance in sokoto.”
“We saw the killers face We know where the act was perpetrated And no order to arrest those involve and bring them to justice?
“@NGRPresident in all this speech nowhere D presidency or Buhari is saying justice should prevail after investigation, nothing like consequences after killing Deborah. All they are saying is they should investigate the cause of the killing. So they can sweep it under the carpet afterwards.”
“@NGRPresident The ENTIRE WORDS was written by a professional who walked across the fence all through. This is the most diplomatic write ups ever. Standing on the thin line on top the fence.”
