A female student, identified as Deborah Yakubu, of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto was reportedly beaten and burnt alive today over alleged religious blasphemy.
The student who was accused of insulting Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) was reportedly beaten to a pulp by some male students who also stoned her before she fell unconsciously to the ground and subsequently set her ablaze.
Reports have it that Deborah was alleged to have made a blasphemous comment on a WhatsApp group which, was created by her colleagues to serve as a platform for the discussion of academic matters.
According to a source, which pleaded anonymity, a religious comment had been posted on the platform and while criticising it, Deborah made a blasphemous comment against the Prophet.
Another source said she made the blasphemous comment while quarreling with a fellow student at the hostel. “She was asked to apologize but refused and this heightened tension in the school. The college security personnel had to intervene by whisking her to the security office but they were overwhelmed by some students, who later mobbed her and set her ablaze, the source disclosed.
Reacting to the incident, the Sokoto state Commissioner for Information, Isa Bajini Galadanchi, said Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal had ordered that the school be closed down and directed the ministry of Higher Education and relevant security agencies to investigate the matter.
The Commissioner further expressed that the Governor has called on the people of the state to remain calm and maintain peace as the government would take appropriate actions on the findings of the investigation.
