Bishop Kukah Condems Killing Of Sokoto Student, Distances Act From Religion

Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto diocese has condemned in strong terms the killing of a female student over alleged blasphemy in the state.

The deceased was a 200 level student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto  and was studying Home Economics.

She was killed on Thursday morning after she was beaten to coma and burnt.

Bishop Kukah condemned the act while distancing it from religion.

He explained that Muslims and Christians in the state had lived peacefully for a long time.

He made this known in statement made available to journalists in Sokoto.

He however attributed the act as a criminal act while calling on security operatives to bring the perpetrators to book.

“I have received with deep shock the news of the tragedy that has occurred in the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, leading to the gruesome murder of Ms. Deborah 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 our land.

“This has nothing to do with religion. Christians have lived peacefully with their Muslim neighbours here in Sokoto over the years.

"This matter must be treated as a criminal act and the law must take its cause."

He further called on the Christian community to be calm and extend their prayers to Deborah.

The police in Sokoto had also announced the arrest of two suspects in connection with the act.