The Sokoto State Government has announced the relaxation of the curfew from 6pm to 6am effective today May 16, 2022, following the killing of Deborah Samuel at the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto State, Northwest Nigeria.
Recall, on Saturday, violence erupted in parts of Sokoto city, Northwest Nigeria, as Muslim youths took to the streets to demand the release of two suspects arrested in connection with the killing and torching of Deborah Samuel, a 200-level female student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, for supposed blasphemy.
Following the violence, the governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, imposed a 24-hour curfew on the city to restore calm.
Deborah was stoned to death and burned by her colleagues on Thursday for allegedly blaspheming Prophet Muhammed (SAW) in a WhatsApp post on a group network. The deceased allegedly recommended against putting religious materials on a WhatsApp group intended for assignments in the post.
Saturday’s demonstration, on the other hand, resulted in property vandalism and shoplifting in certain parts of the city, with many inhabitants fleeing for their lives. The demonstrators also attempted to attack the residence of Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, who is the spiritual authority of Muslims in Nigeria and has condemned the dastardly murder of Deborah.