Nigerians on Thursday demanded justice for a yet-to-be-identified female student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto State after she was mobbed and burnt by some students of the school for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
This is as the school’s management also directed the immediate closure of the school following the incident.
The incident was said to have taken place on Thursday morning. The female student, it was learnt, was beaten to death and subsequently burnt by Muslim students in the school for blasphemy.
A source who spoke with our correspondent in the state confirmed that the deceased, named Deborah was alleged to have used blasphemous language.
“She (the deceased) was having an argument with some of her schoolmates over their ongoing examination and when she was asked how she managed to pass her exams
“She was asked to withdraw the statement and apologize which she refused.
“The school security intervene, and took her to their post but they were overpowered by students after which she was killed in the process.
“After killing her, she was burnt down on the school premises” the source said.
But the school’s management in a circular dated 12th May 2022, while announcing the immediate closure of the college, described the incident as an “early morning Students rampage”.
The circular read, “Following today’s early morning Students rampage in the College, the College Management has resolved to close down the College indefinitely with immediate effect. Consequently, all students are hereby directed to vacate the College campus immediately (12th May, 2022).”
Outraged by the incident, Nigerians on Twitter, asked the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure justice is served.
Meanwhile, Governor Tambuwal has also ordered the immediate closure of the state school over the incident.
Tambuwal, in a statement by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Isah Bajini Galandanci, also directed the Ministry of Higher Education and relevant security agencies in the state to commence investigations into the cause of the unfortunate incident.
“It has come to the notice of Sokoto State Government, the unfortunate incident that took place at the Shehu Shagari College of Education (SSCOE), Sokoto in which a student of the college, lost her life.
“The government has ordered immediate closure of the college.
“The governor 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 Government”
Tambuwal, however, called on the people of the state to remain calm and maintain peace while assuring that the government would take appropriate actions on the findings of the investigations by the relevant authority.
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