A female college student was mob-lynched and beaten up before being set on fire for allegedly insulting Islam’s founder. The incident occurred on May 12 in Nigeria and has sent shockwaves across the country and the world. The victim has been identified as Deborah Samuel.
Even as people were shocked at the gruesomeness of the incident, a Sokoto government official threatened Christians with more violence. “More Christians will be killed for disrespecting Prophet Muhammad. Muslims don’t take insults against beloved prophet in whatever form”, said Anas Mohammad Sani, whose Facebook bio says he is a personal assistant to the Sokoto finance commissioner.
A report by SwarajyaMag says:
The college where this incident took place is located in Sokoto city of Nigeria’s Northwestern state, Kano.
Dozens of Muslim students of Shehu Shagari College of Education went on a protest on Thursday after Deborah shared an audio message on a student Whatsapp group. In the audio, Deborah objected to some Muslim students posting religious content on the group that was meant for sharing college-related information.
The English translation of her audio message, as posted by a media person in Nigeria, is:
“Holy ghost fire, nothing would happen to me. Is it by force you guys keep sending these religious messages in our group? Our group wasn’t created for that, but rather as a notice for when there’s a test, assignment, examinations, etc. Not these nonsense religious posts. Which kind prophet, nonsense prophet.”
After the protest, college authorities tried to hide her in a security room. However, the mob managed to drag her out.
Videos posted by local journalists and activists show Deborah lying on the ground while a mob pelts stones at her and beat her with sticks. Another video shows members of the mob chanting Allahu Akbar (Allah is great) and owning up to the act, stones, and sticks in hand. Some men are seen piling up tyres on her body…
…Sokoto state’s Governor Aminu Tambuwal issued an order the same day of the murder to close the college and directed the Ministry of Higher Education as well as security agencies to investigate the incident. The college has been now closed indefinitely.
The Catholic Diocese of Sokoto criticized the attack in a statement on Friday and called on state authorities to punish the culprits as per law.
Nigeria’s population is almost equally divided between Christians and Muslims. According to available information, around 45 percent are Christians living in the south while Muslims who account for a little over 50 percent of the population resides mainly in Northern states. Less than 10 percent of the population follows traditional religions.
The place where the incident took place falls in North-West Nigeria. A Unites States Commission on International Religious Freedom report says Shariah penal law has been implemented since 1999 in 12 states of Northern Nigeria.
(Featured Image Source: Glamtush)
