TheNewsGuru

Tag: Sokoto State

  • Riots, curfew force suspension of Catholic Masses in Sokoto

    Riots, curfew force suspension of Catholic Masses in Sokoto

    The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan-Kukah, has suspended all Masses in the state.

    In a statement issued on Saturday by the Director of Social Communications in the Diocese, Rev. Fr Christopher Omotosho, the cleric also dismissed reports on the attack on his residence by hoodlums protesting the arrest of two suspected killers of the student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Deborah Samuel.

    He commended the state Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, for imposing a 24-hour curfew on the Sokoto metropolis in a bid to prevent a total breakdown of law and order in the state.

    Samuel, a 200-level student of the college, was killed by an angry mob on Thursday for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammed.

    The police later arrested two people in connection with the incident.

    A group of Muslim youths on Saturday protested in the state capital and demanded the release of the suspects.

    The statement read: “The Sokoto State Government has declared a 24-hour curfew to help stem the ongoing protests embarked upon by Muslim youth in the state capital today.

    “During the protest, groups of youths led by some adults in the background attacked the Holy Family Catholic Cathedral at Bello Way, destroying church glass windows, those of the Bishop Lawton Secretariat were also attacked and a community bus parked within the premises vandalised.

    “St. Kevin’s Catholic Church Gidan Dere, Eastern By-pass, was also attacked and partly burnt; windows of the new hospital complex under construction, in the same premises were shattered.”

    “They were promptly dispersed by a team of Mobile Policemen before they could do further damage

    “Contrary to information in circulation, we wish to disclaim that there was an attack of any sort on the residence of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah.

    “The Bishop appeals to Christians to remain law abiding and pray for the return of normalcy.

    “All Masses in the Sokoto metropolis have been suspended until the curfew is lifted.”

  • Update on Sokoto: Churches attacked by rampaging Moslem youths – Rev Omotosho

    Update on Sokoto: Churches attacked by rampaging Moslem youths – Rev Omotosho

    …as Kukah hails govt and security operatives
    …all Catholic Church masses suspended until curfew is lifted

    The Directorate of Social Communications of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese has confirmed that a few churches in the troubled state were attacked by Muslim youths on rampage.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls that on Saturday, Muslim youths clamouring for the release of two suspects arrested in connection with the murder of Deborah Yakubu last Saturday went on rampage in Sokoto destroying properties belonging to Christians.

    TNG reports that the Catholic Diocese in Sokoto via a statement issued and signed by the Director of Social Communications, Rev Christopher Omotosho gave updates on development in the state.

    Omotosho in the statement explained that:”During the protest, groups of youths led by some adults in the background
    attacked the Holy Family Catholic Cathedral at Bello Way, destroying church glass windows, those of the Bishop Lawton Secretariat and vandalized a community bus parked within the premises. St. Kevin’s Catholic Church Gidan Dere, Eastern By-pass, was also attacked and partly burnt; windows of the new hospital complex under construction, in the same premises were
    shattered.

    “They were promptly dispersed by a team of Mobile Policemen before they could do further damage.

    “The hoodlums also attacked the Bakhita Centre located along Aliyu Jodi Road
    and burnt down a bus within the premises.

    “In a reaction, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Reverend Matthew
    Hassan Kukah commended the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu
    Tambuwal for acting promptly by declaring the 24-hour curfew to stem the
    protests.

    “He also commended the security forces for promptly rising to the occasion to
    prevent further damage at our facilities.
    In all, no life was lost.

    “Contrary to information in circulation, we wish to disclaim that there was an
    attack of any sort on the residence of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah.

    “The Bishop appeals to Christians to remain law abiding and pray for the return of normalcy.

  • Sokoto State Riot: Igbo youth group hints on reprisal attack

    Sokoto State Riot: Igbo youth group hints on reprisal attack

    The apex apex socio-political youth group in the South East, Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, (COSEYL) has frowned at the attacks on Igbos and their properties in Sokoto state,TheNewsGuru.com can confirm.

    COSEYL has hinted on reprisal attacks on Sokoto indigenes living in the South if they do not put a stop to the wanton destruction of lives and properties.

    Recall that there was pandemonium on the streets of Sokoto by irate youths who felt aggrieved and also getting violent over the arrest of two suspected killers of Deborah Samuel a 200-level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education.

    Deborah Samuel was alleged to have insulted Prophet Mohammed (SAW) through a message she sent on her class’ WhatsApp group

     

    After outcries across the country condemning the incident, some of the perpetrators were arrested by the state’s police command.

    Angered by the arrest, a large number of Muslim youths stormed several streets destroying churches and shops belonging to Igbos.

    In reaction to the destruction of shops and properties, COSEYL via a statement made available to pressmen warned that there could be a reprisal attack if the attacks on Igbos and their properties do not stop.

    The statement reads, “These attacks on law-abiding and innocent Igbo businessmen who have done nothing wrong to warrant such vicious and barbaric attack on them is uncalled for and we condemn it in its entirety.

    “We warn the Sokoto indigenes to stop the attack and destruction of Igbo properties and goods forthwith. We want these miscreants to know that nobody has the monopoly of violence, they should stop or else, they will see us soon.

    “The same way Igbos are living in Sokoto doing their legitimate business is also the same way Sokoto indigenes are living in the South doing their business”.

    The coalition called on the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal to immediately arrest and prosecute those involved in the destruction of Igbo properties and churches.

  • Tears as Deborah Samuel’s remains is buried in Niger state

    Tears as Deborah Samuel’s remains is buried in Niger state

    Pastor Emmanuel Maaaji of the First Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Tunga Magajiya, Niger, has confirmed the arrival in Magajiya of the remains of the slain student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Miss Deborah Samuel for burial.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports late Deborah Samuel was killed on Thursday by some college students for alleged blasphemy and the remains of her arrived in her village, Tunga Magajiya, Rijau Local Government Area of the state, for burial on Saturday.

    Maaaji, the pastor to the deceased’s family in charge of the church in Tunga Magajiya, spoke by telephone to newsmen on Saturday.

    “The family is insisting that late Deborah Samuel be buried today because they are not happy with the way the government is handling the issue,” he said.

    Maaaji said that the late Samuel’s mother “has been unconscious since she heard the news on Thursday, which led to a rise in her blood pressure while the father has been inconsolable”.

    He alleged that the body of the late Samuel was brought in a chartered bus.

    He, however, said “the government called and said that it is not right for the family to take the body in that manner without informing the government of Sokoto State.

    “The Sokoto State government told the family that Deborah’s body belongs to the government and not the family”.

    Maaaji said that although he could not recollect the name of the person who called, the person claimed to be representing the government of Sokoto State.

    Similarly, Rev. Danjuma Doma, Coordinator, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Rijau Local Government area of the state, confirmed that the family and church were preparing for the burial.

    “We are preparing for the burial. She will be buried today.

    “We are all here to give the family support. We will update you on the situation as it goes,” he said.

    The state chapter of CAN led by Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora, had condoled the Christian faithful in the state, especially, Rijau Local Government and the family of the late Samuel.

    “We are deeply sorry to hear about the passing on to glory of our beloved sister, Deborah Samuel.

    “Our deepest sympathy goes out to the entire Christian community in Niger, most especially, the people of Rijau Local Government and her immediate family.

    “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Christian community and all her family.

    “At this difficult time of sadness and bereavement, may God have mercy on her and grant her eternal rest.

    “May God grant the immediate family and indeed all of us the fortitude to bear the loss,” he prayed.

    TNG, meanwhile reports, that at the time of filing this report, the remains of Samuel had been laid to rest.

  • Governor Tambuwal imposes 24 hours curfew in Sokoto state

    Governor Tambuwal imposes 24 hours curfew in Sokoto state

    The Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Saturday imposed a 24-hour curfew on the state following a widespread protest over the arrest of two persons allegedly involved in killing and burning of the body of Deborah Samuel a part two student of Shehu Shagari College of Education.

    Some youths of the state have staged a protest demanding for the release of the two suspects arrested for the killing of Deborah Samuel over allegations of Blasphemy.

    Recall that Deborah Samuel was beaten to death and her remains burnt by some Muslim Male students of the institution.

    They accused her of Blasphemy of Prophet Mohammed (SAW) in her WhatsApp Voice note sent to their class group.

  • Sokoto: CAN demands justice for Deborah Samuel

    Sokoto: CAN demands justice for Deborah Samuel

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned the gruesome murder of Deborah Samuel, a 200 Level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, by some extremist fellow students on alleged blasphemy.

    In a joint media briefing by CAN and CAN-Youth Wing, on Friday in Abuja, CAN’s General Secretary, Joseph Daramola, said that the unlawful and dastardly action of the perpetrators must be investigated.

    Daramola said that the act should be condemned by all right thinking people and the security operatives should fish the perpetrators out and prosecute them.

    “As long as the state fails to bring these beasts and criminals amidst us to book, the society will continue to be their killing fields.

    “It is our expectation that the state governor, Aminu Tambuwal, would ensure that the matter is not swept under the carpet, as it was done before,” he said.

    Daramola said that CAN urged teachers and preachers of religious intolerance, extremism and terrorism to repent before the wrath of God descended on them, if the State fail to bring them to book.

    “Such people are agents of death amidst people. CAN recalled the provocative and demeaning advertisement of the Sterling Bank, where the bank compared the Resurrection of Jesus Christ to “Agege bread”.

    “Nobody was attacked and the CAN leadership accepted the apology tendered by its Chief Executive, Abubakar Suleiman,’’ he said.

    Daramola said that CAN acknowledged and commended the restraint of Christian students of the College who refused to embrace self-help and reprisal on those who murdered their colleague.

    He said that it was CAN’s prayers that those vampires in religious garments would not push the country to a religious war.

    “Government and the security agencies should stop treating them with kid gloves. Enough is enough.

    “CAN commiserates with the family of Deborah and other bereaved. May God console and comfort them in Jesus Name,’’ he said.

    CAN’s Legal Director, Comfort Chigbue, said that justice ought to prevail, adding that Christians are law abiding citizens.

    “We will wait to make sure the security agencies do the needful and ensure that this will be the last as necessary actions should be taken. We are sad, we are mourning in CAN,” she said.

    Also speaking, Mr Belusochukwu Enwere, the National Chairman, CAN Youth Wing, said the unlawful and dastardly action of the perpetrators must be condemned by all right-thinking people.

    He said the Police, Department of Security Services, the Minister of Education must fish out the perpetrators of the act and prosecute them as it is expected.

    “Deborah deserves nothing but justice and we believe in your capacity at enthroning justice in this case, by bringing the perpetrators to book.

    “We acknowledge and commend the restraint of Christian students of the College who refused to retaliate in the face of provocation on those who murdered their colleague,’’ Enwere said.

    He thanked the religious leaders in the country, such as the CAN President, Dr Samson Ayokunle, Bishop Hassan Kukah and the Sultan of Sokoto for condemning this heinous act.

  • Deborah Samuel: MURIC reacts to the lynching of female student

    Deborah Samuel: MURIC reacts to the lynching of female student

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has reacted to the lynching of Deborah Samuel a part two student of Shehu Shagari College of Education Sokoto state. TheNewsGuru.com can confirm

    The muslim group has condemned the killing of Deborah over the allegation of insulting prophet Muhammed (SAW)

    In a statement on Friday, Professor Ishaq Akintola, Director of MURIC, described the killing as outrageous, illegal and unlawful.

    He said those aggrieved by the student’s post should have reported her to the security agencies.

    Akintola said mob killing is archaic, bohemian, belongs to the Stone Age and that nobody has the right to take the law into his hands.

    “The Glorious Qur’an compares the killing of a single person to the killing of the whole of humanity just as it compares the saving of a life to the rescue of all homo sapiens (Qur’an 5:32).

    “In like manner, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) himself condemned all acts of violence and advocated peaceful conduct at all times,” he said.

    However, the group stressed the killing shouldn’t be condemned in Isolation

    MURIC stated that a recent trend whereby Nigerians now freely shed their brothers’ blood should be condemned by all patriots.

    “We frown at the recent burning last week of a truck fully loaded with cows in the South East as well as the killing of many Muslims of South East origin by their Igbo brothers in the same South East.”

    MURIC urged the Sokoto State Police Command to do everything within its power to get to the bottom of Deborah’s murder.

    The organization appeal to Nigerians to desist from insulting, deriding or abusing the prophets of other religions.

    “Muslims should continue to respect Jesus (peace be upon him) whom the Christians hold very dear. Christians should avoid casting aspersion on the person of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)”, Akintola added.

  • Deborah Samuel: Atiku explains why his post was deleted

    Deborah Samuel: Atiku explains why his post was deleted

    Former Vice President and a presidential aspirant, under the umbrella of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)Atiku Abubakar has explained why the post he made condemning the lynching of Deborah Samuel a part two student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto State by some male Muslim students, was deleted shortly after it was posted online.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Deborah Samuel was beaten to death and her remains burnt by some male Muslim students who accused her of insulting Prophet Muhammed SAW via a WhatsApp platform.

     

    The management of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto State has shut down the school indefinitely to avoid being thrown into further pandemonium.

    Atiku had, while reacting to the incident, declared that all those behind the killing must be brought to book.

    He wrote, “There cannot be a justification for such gruesome murder. Deborah Yakubu was murdered, and all those behind her death must be brought to justice. My condolences to her family and friends.”

    However, some religious fanatics with Islamic names stormed the comment sections, particularly on Facebook, threatening to withdraw their support for his 2023 presidential ambition.

    The presidential aspirants later deleted the post on his various social media handles to avoid more comments on the post.

    Writing on his Facebook page on Friday, Atiku said he did not give approval for the post.

    He said, ”This evening I received information that a post was made that doesn’t agree with my orders. I use this to announce that any post without AA is not from me. May God protect – AA.”

  • Bishop Mattew Kukah speaks on the lynching of Deborah Samuel

    Bishop Mattew Kukah speaks on the lynching of Deborah Samuel

    Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto has expressed sadness and shock over the killing of a young christian lady of the Shehu Shagari College of Education Sokoto State for allegedly blaspheming Prophet Mohammed (SAW)

     

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the student who was identified as Deborah Yakubu was lynched by some male Muslim students for allegedly insulting Prophet Mohammed in a WhatsApp platform.

    Many reactions have trailed the unfortunate killing of the institution over the matter

    The unfortunate incident has continued to generate reactions from concerned Nigerians who are demanding justice for the 200-level student.

    Bishop Kukah in a statement he personally signed, called on relevant authorities to fish out the perpetrators without delay.

    According to him, those who carried out the attack must be punished according to the law of the country, saying the matter must be treated as a criminal case.

    He said, “I have received with deep shock the incident that occured in the Shehu Shagari College of Education Sokoto State leading to the gruesome murder of Miss 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 authority is the assurance that those who are guilty of this inhuman act, no matter their motivation, are punished according to the law of the land.

    “Christians have lived peacefully with their Muslim neighbours in Sokoto over the years. This matter must be treated as a criminal act and the law must take its cause”.

    Meanwhile the police in Sokoto on Thursday said two suspects have been taken into custody in connection with the lynching of Deborah Samuel.

    Sokoto police spokesman Sanusi Abubakar said in a statement Thursday evening that the mob overpowered campus security before killing the female student and setting her remains on fire.

  • Burnt Sokoto student: Police arrests two suspects, school shut

    Burnt Sokoto student: Police arrests two suspects, school shut

    The Sokoto State Police Command has arrested two persons in connection with the killing of a female student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, over alleged blasphemous statement.

    Reacting the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, in a statement signed by the secretary of the Sultanate Council, Sa’idu Muhammadu Maccido, condemned the killing in its totality.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports this was contained in a press statement signed by the Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Sanusi Abubakar, and made available to newsmen in the state on Thursday.

    “At about 0900hrs, a distress call was received from the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, stating that students were rioting over one female student named Deborah Samuel, a 200 level student, who was accused of making a social media post that blasphemed the holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

    “Students forcefully removed the victim from the security room where she was hidden by the school authorities, killed her and burnt the building. The students banded together with miscreants and barricaded the Sokoto/Jega road.

    Upon receiving the information, the DC Operations led a team of policemen and all other operational commanders in the state to the school, where the road was cleared and the situation was brought under control.

    “Two students were arrested in connection with the crime committed. The school has been closed down by the school authority, and policemen were deployed to give tight security coverage,” the statement partly read.The statement further said the State Commissioner of Police, CP Kamaldeen Okunlola, is appealing to members of the public to go about their lawful activities and should not panic as the situation is under control.

    He further assured that the suspects in the viral video on Twitter were spotted, and will be nailed soon.

    In his reaction, the Sultan said: “Sultanate Council has learnt with dismay the unfortunate happenings at the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, that led to the loss of life a female student of the institution.

    The Sultanate council condemned the incident in its totality and has urged the security agencies to bring perpetrators of the unjustifiable incident to justice,” the statement read.