Blasphemy: Gov. Tambuwal receives committee’s report on slain student, Deborah

Sokoto Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has received the report of a committee set up to probe blasphemy allegations against the murdered female student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education (SSCOED), Miss Deborah Samuel Yakubu, in May, this year.

The killing of Deborah by a mob within the school’s premises led to the shutdown of the institution and declaration of curfew in parts of the state as protesters went on rampage over the arrest of two suspected culprits in the mob killing.

Riots broke out in parts of Sokoto, as irate Muslim youths targeted churches and other properties belonging the Catholic and ECWA churches in the state, as they demanded the release of the two arrested persons said to have played a role in the beating to death and subsequent lynching of the 200-leve, Economic student of the institution, Miss Yakubu, over alleged blasphemy.

Several properties belonging to the Catholic suffered damages, as the rioters further marched to the palace of the Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Sa’ad demanding release of the suspects.

The Sokoto Sultanate Council had condemned the killing of a female student of Shehu Shagari College of Education Sokoto State, following outrage by Nigerians over the incident.

The Sultanate Council in a statement issued by its secretary, Sa’idu Mohammadu Maccido, called on security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.

The council called on members of the public to remain calm and live peacefully with one another.

“The Sultanate Council has learnt with dismay the unfortunate happening at the Shehu Shagari College of Education, SSCOE Sokoto that led to the loss of life of a female student of the institution.

“The Sultanate Council condemns the incident in its totality and has urged the security agencies to bring the perpetrators of the unjustifiable incident to justice.

“The Sultanate Council has urged all to remain calm and ensure peaceful co-existence among all people of the state and nation.”

Earlier, the state’s Commissioner for Education, Alh. Isah Bajini Galadanci, announced the immediate shutdown of the institution

“It has come to the notice of Sokoto State government, the unfortunate incident that took place at the Shehu Shagari College of Education in which a student of the college lost her life.

“The Government has ordered the immediate closure of the college.

“Already the state governor Rt Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has directed the Ministry of Higher education and relevant security agencies in the state to commence investigations into the remote and immediate causes of the incident and report back to the government,” said the Education Commissioner.

Meanwhile, receiving the report of the committee in Sokoto, Tuesday, Governor Tambuwal said having received the recommendation of the committee and heard from the several stakeholders and leaders in the state on the need for the college to reopen, his administration will look into the possibility of doing so.

He directed the Governing Council of the SSCOE to convene a meeting with a view to reopening the college soonest.

The Governor also assured the people of the state that the government will implement the recommendations of the committee, reiterating his belief that doing so will prevent future re-occurrence not only in affected college but in all tertiary institutions in the state.