Following the arrest of two suspects for their suspected roles in Deborah Samuel’s murder, rioting erupted in Sokoto on Saturday.
One of the victim’s friends, however, has detailed what happened before Deborah Samuel was murdered for supposed blasphemy.
Ms Samuel was lynched by suspected fellow students at an education college in Sokoto, according to reports. Ms Samuel, a Christian, was accused by the mob of disparaging Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam.
Her classmate responded by writing:
“Deborah Samuel was my course mate. I just stepped into the class when the uproar on her voice note started.”
“It was her own course mates that started it. One of them said Deborah dared them by refusing to apologise whenever she was asked to. It all started with a debate on the upcoming examination on a general WhatsApp platform created for our course mates. One of the students asked her how she passed the last semester’s examination and in response, she said it was ‘Jesus o.’”
“Immediately, about three other chats came in from two Muslims and one Christian, telling her to retract the statement. Two students from other departments who over heard some Muslim boys discussing the matter told Deborah’s close friends to prevail on her to retract the statement. But she replied via a voice note on the platform ‘Holy Ghost fire. Nothing will happen to me.”
“Is it by force that you guys will always be sending this religious stuff in this group? The group wasn’t created for that but rather as a notice on test, assignment, exam, etc, not this nonsense religious posts.”
“We were made to understand that some young men were brought from outside before the outrage. I was in class when some of our course mates rushed in, saying ‘there is fire on the mountain o’.”
“The Muslim students led the strangers to the class to look for her. In fear, those in the class tried to help her escape and took her to the security post from where they hoped to create a way for her to run outside Already, a cab was waiting outside to drive her straight to the police station. Unfortunately, the mob overpowered everyone who tried to save her. They even threatened to kill anyone who attempted to stand in their way.”
Deborah Samuel’s last words
“She was dragged out, flogged and stoned. The last word in her mouth was; ‘what do you hope to achieve with this?’ By then some of our coursemates were making calls to some of our lecturers to save the situation. At a point, all the Christian students fled the school premises.”
“It was when I got home that I heard she was set ablaze. Since the incident, I have been having a flash of her pleading expression. She pleaded for mercy and called out for help but it was far from her. What a cruel way to die.” She said.”
From Remi Hassan.
The number one and number two citizens of the country have not held back from condemning the lynching of Deborah Samuel. Below are their statement on the whole brouhaha;
President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement on Deborah Samuel’s killing
“I strongly condemn the resort to self-help by the mob in Sokoto, resulting in violence, destruction and in the very tragic killing of Deborah Samuel, following an allegation that she had blasphemed Muhammad (SAW), the Prophet of Islam.”
“The news of the killing of the young lady by fellow students is a matter of great concern, and there must be an impartial and extensive probe into all that happened before and during the incident.”
“Indeed, Muslims all over the world demand respect for the Holy Prophets, including Isah (Alaihissalaam, Jesus Christ) and Muhammad (SAW), but where transgressions occur, as alleged to be the case in this instance, the law does not allow anyone to take matters into their own hands.”
“Also, 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 never and will never solve any problem.”
“I commend the immediate response to the incident by the Sokoto State Government, and urge religious and community leaders to call the attention of citizens to the need to exercise the right to freedom of speech responsibly.”
“At this time we must emphasize the news 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.”
“The Ministries of Information and Culture, Police Affairs, and Communications and Digital Economy have been directed to work with GSM providers and Tech companies to help contain the spread of false and inflammatory information through social media.”
“Once again, my deepest condolences to the family of the deceased student, Deborah Samuel.”
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s statement on the Deborah Samuel’s murder
“I must say that the killing of Deborah Samuel is a deeply distressing thing, very disturbing – such an attrocious killing of the young lady by a mob who took the law into their own hands. It is very unfortunate.”
“The President has reacted to this in a statement which was issued earlier condemning the action.”
“The swift reaction of the Sokoto State Government and also the Sultan of Sokoto is highly commendable. Their swift reaction to the situation clearly demonstrated the outrage of millions of Nigerians and also demonstrated the desire of everyone to ensure that the perpetrators are quickly apprehended and prosecuted.”
“As the President said, there’s really no excuse for anyone to take the law into their own hands no matter the provocation, there are set processes for ensuring that we are able to redress whatever wrongs that are done against us.”
“We must express our condolence to the family of the young lady Deborah Samuel. I can’t imagine how her parents, siblings and members of her family feel, not just about her death, but the very horrendous nature of its occurrence.”
“It is very sad indeed, and I extend our sincere condolences to them. I ask that the Almighty will comfort them at this time.”
Sheikh Gumi’s statement on Deborah Samuel’s killing
Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, an Islamic cleric, has reminded Muslims, particularly the bloodthirsty zealots behind Deborah Samuel’s gruesome murder and those in support of the atrocious conduct, that the prophet of Islam, Muhammad, never killed anyone despite being insulted multiple times.
According to reports, Gumi said this while teaching a class in his Kaduna Juma’at mosque.
As per Premium Times, in a video clip collected and translated by PRNigeria. Gumi stated the prophet’s failure to avenge the insults non-Muslims heaped on him while he was alive was due to his fear of being labeled a murderer.
He said: “Anyone who kills a non-Muslim who they have agreed to live peacefully with, will not smell the fragrance of Paradise for 40 years.
“If we think by killing Deborah, people who are not of the same faith with us will stop insulting our prophet, then we are in delusion,” he concluded.
