Ms Deborah Emmanuel Yakubu, a Christian female student brutally murdered by a mob in Sokoto State for allegedly insulting Prophet Mohammed, was framed by a colleague whose love advances she turned down, according to fresh information on the incident.
Deborah, a native of Tungan Magajiya Rijau LGA, Niger State who was studying at the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, was on Thursday, stoned to death and subsequently set ablaze by her fellow students after being accused of blasphemy.
However, according to an account by Azzaman Azzaman, a popular evangelist from Kaduna State who knows the murdered student, she was only set up by a Muslim student whose love advances she turned down.
Azzaman in a post on his facebook page, saidthe young man whose love proposal Deborah rejected, fabricated the blasphemy story and got her killed in the 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.”
Meanwhile, the brutal murder of the school girl has continued to generate condemnations across the country.
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.”
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.
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.