President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday condemned setting ablaze of Deborah Samuel which occurred in Sokoto State on Thursday.

Recall that irate youths of the Shehu Shagari College of Education killed Samuel, a level-two student, for allegedly making a social media post that blasphemed the holy prophet Muhammad.

The police said the students forcefully removed the victim from the security room of the college where she was hidden by the school authorities, killed her and burnt the building.

Videos on the social media show men stoning and flogging a motionless body draped in red attire.

Some footage also captured a raging fire as a man faced the camera, brandishing a matchbox and boasting that he killed and burnt her.

In a statement released via the presidency’s official Twitter account on Friday, Buhari decried the mob action and ordered a probe into the incident.

The statement entitled ‘President Buhari reacts to Sokoto killing linked to alleged blasphemy, was signed by the president’s media aide, Mr. Garba Shehu.

Buhari directed the police to launch “extensive probe into all that happened before and during the incident.”

He also directed the ministries of information and culture, police affairs and that of communications and digital economy to work with GSM providers and Tech companies to help contain the spread of false and inflammatory information through social media.

The president extended the nation’s condolences to the family of the deceased student and wished all those injured a quick recovery.

He said the news of the killing of the young lady by fellow students was a matter of concern and demanded an impartial, extensive probe into all that happened before and during the incident.

The President noted that 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 hands.

The full statement reads

President Buhari reacts to Sokoto killing linked to alleged blasphemy, says violence does not solve problems

“President Muhammadu Buhari strongly condemns the resort to self-help by the mob in Sokoto, resulting in violence, destruction and killing of a second year student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Deborah Samuel, following an allegation that she had blasphemed Muhammad (SAW), the Prophet of Islam on Thursday.

“President Buhari said the news of the killing of the young lady by fellow students was a matter of concern and demanded an impartial, extensive probe into all that happened before and during the incident.

“The President noted that 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 hands.

“Moreover, 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 and never will solve any problem,” said the President.

“President Buhari also directed the ministries of information and culture, police affairs and that of communications and digital economy to work with GSM providers and Tech companies to help contain the spread of false and inflammatory information through social media.

“The President extended the nation’s condolences to the family of the deceased student and wished all those injured a quick recovery. He commended the immediate response to the incident by the Government and urged religious and community leaders to call citizens’ attention to the need to exercise the right to freedom of speech responsibly.

“President Buhari called for tampered 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.

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

May 13, 2022