Youths kill, burn Sokoto student over alleged blasphemy
AN IRATE youths on Thursday, killed a female student of Shehu Shagari College of Education and set her ablaze over what they described as blasphemy of Islamic faith.
The victim, Deborah Samuel, a level-two student, was accused of making a social media post that blasphemed the holy prophet Muhammad (SAW).
According to Police sources, the students forcefully removed the victim from the security room where she was hidden by the school authorities, killed her and burnt the building.
Videos on social media show men stoning and flogging a motionless body draped in red attire.
Some footage also captured a raging fire as a man faced the camera, claiming that he killed and burnt her, and brandishing a matchbox.
According to the police, the students banded together with miscreants and barricaded the Sokoto/Jega road.
In a statement signed by spokesperson, Sanusi Abubakar, the police said it has arrested two persons in connection with the killing.
He said the police mobilised to scene of the incident upon receiving the information led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operation and other commanders to bring the situation under control.
According to Mr. Abubakar, the school has been shut down and additional police personnel deployed to the premises.
He also noted that the Commissioner of Police, Sokoto State Command, Kamaldeen Kola Okunlola, has appealed to members of the public to go about their lawful activities and not panic as the situation is under control.
The police also vowed that the suspects in the viral video on Twitter were spotted and will be nailed soon.
Eminent Nigerians have condemned the attack.