ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto –
The Governing Council of Shehu Shagari College of Education, at its 79th meeting held Friday, has approved the reopening of the college on Monday, 8th August, 2022.
Recall that the college was shot down indefinitely by Governor Aminu Tambuwal, 86 days ago after mobs killed and set ablaze one Deborah Samuel, an NCE 2 student of the Home Economics Department on allegation of blasphemy.
The decision to reopen the institution was contained in a statement signed by the College, Registrar, Malam Gandi Muhammad Asara.
According to the statement, all students of both NCE and Degree programme are to report to the college to sign an undertaking form between Monday 8th to 11th August, 2022.
Recall that, the late Deborah Samuel was killed and set ablaze by mobs suspected to be fellow students after her response to an issue in her class Whatsapp group suspected was said to blasphemous.
Deborah’s comment in the group according to several accounts generated the anger that she has blasphemed the Prophet, hence, leading to mob action against her before setting her ablaze.
Reacting to the incident then, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocee, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, condemned the attack on the deceased and urged the security agencies to bring those involved in the gruesome murder of Ms Deborah to book.
Bishop Kukah, alongside the state governor, and the Sultan all condemned this incident in the strongest terms and call on the authorities to investigate the tragic incidence with a view to bringing all them to book.
According to Kukah, the killing of Deborah has nothing to do with religion, hence both Christians and their Muslim brothers have lived peacefully with each other in Sokoto over the years, adding, “This matter must be treated as a criminal act and the law must take it’s cause”.
Governor Tambuwal through his Commissioner of Information, Hon Isah Bajini Galadanci ordered for immediate investigation into the cause of the incident in addition to closing the institution.
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Few days after Deborah Samuel’s killing, the Sokoto State Police Command declared the prime suspected in the act wanted for culpable homicide.
The State Police Command spokesperson, ASP Sanusi Abubakar noted that those arrested at the scene of the crime have been charged to court and sentenced to correctional centers.
Uncomfortable with the arrest and subsequent detention of the suspects linked to Deborah Samuel’s killing, some groups stagged protest within Sokoto metropolis and demanded for their unconditional release.
86 days has come and gone after the incident, the question on the lips of most people is whether the suspects have been released or still in the correctional center?
Others are asking if the state is willing to continue the prosecution to serve as determent to others or succumb to pressures and let it go unnoticed?.
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