Sokoto Horror: For Rejecting Love Advances, Deborah Was Framed, Stoned To Death; Two Arrested; Anger Rises

By Gideon Njok

“She didn’t insult any Prophet Mohammed. Investigation is ongoing already. It was discovered that she turned down a Muslim proposal to date her. That led to accusing her of insulting Prophet Mohammed ” – Azzaman.

Nigerians and the civilised World were on Wednesday, May 12, treated to a horrifying incident. They were treated to a video of the brutal murder, by stoning, of a Christian Girl, Deborah Emmanuel Yakubu, a student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, by her fellow students.

A native of Tungan Magajiya Rijau LGA, Niger State, she was first beaten, then stoned and finally set ablaze by her fellow students who are of the Islamic faith. Miss Yakubu was accused of blasphemy. She was alleged to have spoken in an unflattering manner of Prophet Mohammed. She was, therefore dragged out from the Security Department of the College, where she was rushed to for refuge, stoned to death, and set ablaze.

However, a lie has been put to that angle of the story by a young man who goes by the name Azzaman Azzaman.

According to his post, Miss Yakubu did not say anything about Prophet Mohammed. He said she was killed because she rejected to date a Muslim colleague of hers. For rejecting the love advances, the young man fabricated the blasphemy story and got her killed in a most brutal manner.

The post reads: “Deborah Emmanuel is the name of the girl they killed today(Thursday), in FCOE, Sokoto.

“She attends ECWA Church Tungan Magajiya, Rijau LGA, Niger State.

“She is from Tungan Magajiya Rijau Local Government Area, Niger State.

“She didn’t insult any Prophet Mohammed. Investigation is ongoing already. It was discovered that she turned down a Muslim proposal to date her. That led to accusing her of insulting Prophet Mohammed.

“I have requested for the picture of the useless boy who engineered her murder because she turned down to have an affair with an unbeliever.

“I learnt the boy shouting Allahu Akbar Mun kashe ta in the video is the boy.

“Christian Association of Nigeria, please, we are looking upto you. This boy and the other animals who did this must be arrested.”

Sultanate Reacts

In a Press Release signed by Sa’idu Muhammadu Maccido, Danburan Sokoto, Secretary, Sultanate Council, the Sultanate expressed dismay at the unfortunate incident, and urged Security Agencies to go to work and bring the culprits to book.

The Release reads: ” The Sultanate Council has learnt with dismay the unfortunate happenings 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 condemned the incident in its entirety, and has urged the Security Agencies to bring 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.”

Bishop Kukah Shocked

A shocked Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, in a statement said: “I have just received with deep shock the news of the tragedy that occurred at the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, leading to the gruesome murder of Ms Yakubu, a 200 level  Home Economics  student today.

“We condemn this incident in the strongest terms and call on the authorities to investigate this tragedy and ensure that all the culprits are brought to book.

“The only obligation that is owed her immediate family, her fellow students and the school authorities is the assurance that those who are guilty of this inhuman act, no matter their motivation, are punished according to the extant laws of the land. This has nothing to do with religion. Christians have lived peacefully with their  Muslims  neighbours here in Sokoto over the years.

“This matter must be treated as a criminal act, and the law must take its cause.”

Kukah condoled with Deborah’s family, and called for calm amongst the Christian faithful in Sokoto.

Atiku Laments

Reacting via Twitter, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is also a Presidential aspirant under the PDP in 2023 lamented:

“There cannot be a justification  for such gruesome murder. Deborah Yakubu was murdered and

all those behind her death must be brought to justice.

My condolences to her family and friends.”

Tambuwal Shuts down College

Meanwhile, the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, who is, also, a Presidential aspirant under the PDP, has ordered the immediate shutdown of the College.

In a post, Reno Omokri, a socio-political critic,  challenged Tambuwal to rise to the occasion and see that justice is served. He said how Tambuwal handles this gruesome murder will show how he intends to be President if he wins.

Deborah was dragged out from the Security Office of the College where he was smuggled to for safety, by Muslim students who went berserk, overwhelmed the Security personnel, and stoned and burnt her to death.

Two Students Arrested

The Sokoto State Police Command in a statement, by its Spokesperson, ASP Ssnusi Abubakar, said two Students have been arrested in connection with the brutal murder.  He assured that all those connected to  the tragedy will be arrested.

The sickening video of Deborh’s murder clearly showed  several of the killers, and one of them, in particular, who looked straight at the camera, granted an interview, holding a box of matches, and hailed himself for being one of those who killed Deborah and set her ablaze.