Deborah Samuel: CDHR Flays Killing, Aftermath Violence, Urges Investigation

By Ayodele Oni

As the remains of the murdered Deborah Samuel, 200 level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto were committed to  mother-earth, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, (CDHR), has flayed the gruesome killing.

A statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Idris Afees Olayinka, CDHR condemned in its entirety the unlawful killing of Deborah on alleged blasphemy.

The human rights body described the killing as unlawful, cruel and barbaric, saying no one has the right to take the life of a fellow human being under the laws of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In its statement on Sunday, CDHR noted: “The killers of Deborah Samuel which in other publication called Deborah Yakubu are Students of a College of Education who killed a fellow student, not illiterate street misguided urchins.

“This senseless act shows the  quality and standard of tertiary education in Nigeria.

“According to the police report, Deborah Samuel was accused of making a social media post which was found blasphemous about the holy prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

“The viral videos show men stoning and flogging a motionless body of Deborah draped in red attire.

“It’s hardly ever conceivable that the respective laws on blasphemy in the States where they apply can be justified in Nigeria in view of section10 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 which establishes Nigeria as a secular State.

“Besides Sub section 38 and 39 of the same Constitution guarantee the rights of Nigerians to religion and expression which rights cannot be arbitrarily abridged.

“It was learnt that few people have been arrested by the police authority in connection with the killing.

“The arrest has also led to violent demonstration by some section of society agitating for their release.

“CDHR frowns at the aftermaths of the violence, demonstration which culminated into destructions of properties, looting among others by the agitators to release the alleged killers of Deborah Samuel.

“The organization describes the demonstration as senseless and uncalled for.

“Remember On 22nd January, 2021, a teenager in Nigeria’s nothern city of Kano who was sentenced to 10 years’ jail for “blasphemy” by an Islamic court has had his sentence overturned by a appeal court.

“It is imperative to arraign blasphemous suspect before the court and not carrying out jungle justice.

“However, CDHR charges the police authority and relevant stakeholders to make arrests and bring all perpetrators to book.

“CDHR uses this medium to express our condolences to the family, relatives and friends of Deborah Samuel. We beseech Almighty God to comfort them all and give them fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

“CDHR will continue to monitor the events as it unfolds.”