Students of the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on Thursday, May 12, 2022, beat their female colleague to death and subsequently set her body ablaze over alleged blasphemy against Islam.
The deceased, who has been identified as Deborah Samuel, a Christian, is said to have beaten and stoned to death after she protested against the sharing of an Islamic piece on the students WhatsApp group.
She reportedly recorded an audio in which she described the message and the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in terms the Muslim students, who are in majority, considered blasphemous.
Members of the group demanded a withdrawal of the comment against the Prophet but she refused. This angered some fanatical Muslim students who instigated a mob attack on her.
Reports say attempts by the school security to rescue her proved futile as the mob overpowered them and took away the deceased from their custody. She was beaten and stoned to death after which her remains were also set on fire.
Following the incident, the school has been closed down. In a circular announcing the closure of the school, management of the institution described the incident as an “early morning students’ rampage”.
There has since been public outrage over the barbaric killing of the student, with many calling for justice.
Meanwhile, two suspects have been picked up by the police in connection with the murder.
