Sources say the irate attackers in the Sokoto College of Education, who went berserk, stoned the Christian female student to death, before setting her body on fire.
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
In what clearly illustrates the madness of religion, ‘God’s warriors’ were busy this afternoon protecting what they claim to be his honour by stoning and burning to death their own colleague, a student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education.
According to Peoples Gazette in their rendition of the account, the irate attackers in the Sokoto College of Education, who went berserk, roasted the Christian female student, only identified by her first name, Deborah.
There are conflicting reports on what actually happened.
Daily Trust newspaper reported that the victim was said to have made a blasphemous comment on a WhatsApp group.
“The group was created by her colleagues and it served as a platform to discuss academic issues,” a source told the newspaper.
Someone said a religious comment was posted on the platform and while criticising it, Deborah made a blasphemous comment against Prophet Mohammed.
Yet, another source said she made the comment while quarreling with a fellow student at the hostel.
“She was asked to apologize but refused and this heightened tension in the school. The college security personnel had to intervened by whisking her to their office but they were overwhelmed by students, who later set her ablaze,” the source said.
Peoples Gazette also reported that the victim was accused of allegedly passing unflattering comments about Prophet Mohammed on campus and following immediate threats to her safety, she was immediately evacuated to the security post of the school, according to a student who witnessed the development. But the mob pursued her to the security post and overpowered the personnel there.
There has not been any detailed report about the student’s information, but a video has already circulated online showing how young males hurled stones at her. Some also used sticks and different objects to hit her.
When the victim fell to the ground unconsciously, the attackers gathered tyres around her before she was set ablaze.
While the police is yet to issue an official statement on the horrendous incident, briefing reporters at Government House, Sokoto, Commissioner of Information, Isa Bajini Galadanchi, said Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal had ordered that the school be shut and directed the Ministry of Higher Education and relevant security agencies to investigate the matter.
“The Governor of Sokoto State has called on the people of the state to remain calm and maintain peace as the government would take appropriate actions on the findings of the investigation,” Bajini said.
Authorities of the College have issued a statement announcing the immediate closure of the school.
Meanwhile heavily armed security operatives have been dispatched to the College in Sokoto to forestall breakdown of law and order. They were seen patrolling the premises while students were trooping out with their belongings.
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Emefiele’s audacity triggered Buhari’s masterstroke
Killing people in the name of God in the North is commonplace.
Last year, TheNiche exclusively reported how in 2004, the violent sermons of the Chief Imam of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi mosque, who is now the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, directly led to the brutal murder of a 400-level student, Sunday Achi, who was the leader of the ECWA Student Ministries (ESM) in the campus.
Pantami claims he has renounced that violent path, but many in the North have not.
