Nigeria: Riot in Sokoto, Churches and Business destroyed over arrests of killers of Deborah Samuel

Nigeria: Riot in Sokoto, Churches and Business destroyed over arrests of killers of Deborah Samuel

By: James Bwala

Riot has erupted in Sokoto state, northwest Nigeria despite curfew imposed by the government over the killing of Deborah Samuel, a female student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, for Alleged blasphemy.

The unrest according to residents on Saturday was following the arrest of suspected killers of Deborah Samuel on Thursday.

The attackers of Saturday riot allegedly led by some clerics specifically, targeted the Catholic Church and ECWA churches and destroyed them. 

Also Read: Sokoto killing, deeply distressing – Osinbajo

It could be recalled that there was tension in Sokoto in the early hours of Saturday, when the news broke out that three students were arrested in connection with the stoning and burning of the female student.

Protesters said to be fanatic Muslims came out in large numbers on Saturday and urged security operatives to release the suspects.

They were on the street chanting protest songs, claiming that Deborah Samuel was lynched and burnt for allegedly insulting Prophet Mohammed.

“Some churches on Ahmad Bello way were also not spared.

“A Catholic church and a building of the Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA, were destroyed by the protesters.” Said Mr. Amos Dauda 

NEWSng  also learnt that the protesting Muslims also looted shops and business centres belonging to the non-indigenes, particularly from the South East.

It was said that some of the businesses  were also touched and in some cases destroyed completely.

“Combat aircrafts were seen hovering over Sokoto releasing teargas to disperse the protesters.” He added.

The gruesome killing of the female student was widely condemned across the world, including some Islamic Clerics

Nigeria: Riot in Sokoto, Churches and Business destroyed over arrests of killers of Deborah Samuel