Today, May 12, 2022, marks one year since Deborah Emmanuel, a 200-level female student at the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto State, was set ablaze and killed by Islamic extremists over blasphemy allegations against Prophet Mohammed.
Deborah was killed after allegedly advising her classmates not to post religious content on their WhatsApp group, which was set up for academic purposes.
A video of the student being stoned and beaten with sticks by her Muslim classmates before being set ablaze, went viral across all social media platforms.
Deborah’s parents described her death as sad and painful, and said they had left her killers to God.
Her parents claimed they had nothing to say or do in response to the death of their child and had instead chosen to put their trust entirely in God.
The father, Mr. Emmanuel Garba, a security personnel with the Niger State Water Works Cooperation at Tungan-Magajiya said, “we can’t say or do anything, except to take it easy as an act of God. We have left all to God, we have decided to take it like that”.
On who brought back the body of his deceased daughter from Sokoto State, the father explained that he personally went and brought back her remains to be buried.
“I personally went and brought back the body of my daughter to enable me to bury my own child. This is because keeping her in the morgue will not return her back.
“When I got there, I met government officials and made them understand the need to allow me take her back home and they agreed with me. When we got to the morgue, those in charge asked me to sign the necessary documents and I did. They released the corpse to me.”
On who paid for the transportation, he said; “I personally, paid the sum of N120,000 to the driver out of many that refused to convey her back home and it is because of the condition of the remains. Most drivers we approached all refused except one.”
Confirming the call by the Sokoto State Government that the body of his daughter should not be returned home, the father of the deceased stated, “the government wanted me to leave the remains, when they called me, I said no, they should allow me to please, bury my daughter.”
Also, the mother, Mrs. Alheri Emmanuel, told our reporter that Deborah was the second of seven children, adding that it’s so sad to have lost her at such a young age, seeing as they were relying on her to help support them in the future.
On her medical condition, the mother of the deceased explained that she is stable now and discharged from the hospital where she was admitted upon hearing the news of the gruesome murder of her daughter.
Amid tears, Mrs. Alheri stated: “I have nothing to say, I am grateful to God and for your efforts. I have given God my heart and may God strengthen me. We have nothing to say.
“Because of what happened to me, I will no longer send my children to schools where so much money is involved. Because of her education, the education of some of her siblings suffered as it is so difficult to care for them all at the same time. And, now things are difficult for us”.
Also, her elder brother, Nakaka Garba, when asked for his reaction, simply stated, “I have nothing to say, we are pained by what happened, but we have left all to God.”
On why their daughter bore Deborah ‘Samuel’ instead of ‘Garba’, the father further added, “she has been living with my brother since she was in primary school and had been using the name”.
Arrest of the Suspects
The Sokoto State Police Command announced the arrest of two suspects in connection with Deborah’s murder, identified as Bilyaminu Aliyu and Aminu Hukunci. They were on May 16 docked at a Sokoto Chief Magistrate’s Court for their alleged participation in the crime.
A total number of thirty-four lawyers led by Professor Mansur Ibrahim, allegedly sponsored by some public figures, stormed the court to defend the suspected killers.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Sanusi Abubakar, in a statement on August 28, revealed that those arrested were not the prime suspects, saying that they were only among those who organised the riot. He also vowed that the command will unearth all the suspected killers upon completion of investigation.
Abubakar Atiku and the Deleted Tweets
Following Deborah’s murder, a tweet via the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Abubakar Atiku’s verified page had read, “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.”
A few hours after the post, Atiku deleted the tweet and took to Facebook to justify his actions.
In a message on his verified Hausa page, the former Vice President distanced himself from the message. He also stated that any message on social media without the initials “A. A.” was not his.
“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 A. A. is not from me. May God protect us,” he wrote in Hausa language.
However, the former vice president came under fire following his actions.
Human Rights Writers Threatened Atiku and Tambuwal
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, had slammed the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, over his alleged failure to seek justice for slain schoolgirl, Deborah Samuel.
The group also threatened to include the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the Hall Of Infamy.
HURIWA expressed displeasure with the two PDP politicians in a statement signed by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko on Tuesday, saying Tambuwal’s silence and failure to get justice for Deborah Samuel is highly condemnable.
HURIWA issued an ultimatum to Tambuwal and Atiku to announce broad-based actions enforced against Deborah’s killers.
They said failure to do this, they will be named in HURIWA’s human rights hall of infamy by December 10, 2022.
“Tambuwal and his co-travellers are supporting the continuation of the ugly trend with their disposition and failure to get the victims justice,” HURIWA alleged.
“The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, and Islamic clerics have also been mute over the incident, five months after.”
The group noted that there has been no justice for all the victims of Northern religious fanaticsm gruesomely murdered for blasphemy by persons said to be Muslims.
“That Deborah’s case was completely forgotten by the Nigerian government and especially the Sokoto State government headed by a senior lawyer Mr Tambuwal who is now Director-General of Atiku is concerning,” the group lamented.
For this particular reason, HURIWA called on Nigerians to reject Atiku during the 2023 presidential election, insisting that the former vice president cannot guarantee the safety of Christians in the far north if elected into office as the President.
“Also, Tambuwal has till December 9th to announce broad-based actions enforced against Deborah’s killers or HURIWA name him in our HUMAN RIGHTS HALL OF INFAMY and then inaugurate a campaign on the event of WORLD’S HUMAN RIGHTS DAY on December 10th 2022,” the statement said.
The United States Department of State honoured Deborah Samuel
In marking the US International Day Commemorating the Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, on August 22, Deborah’s picture was uploaded on the website of the US Office of Religious Freedom.
The office promotes universal respect for freedom of religion or belief for all as a core objective of U.S. foreign policy.
It also monitors religiously motivated abuses, harassment, and discrimination worldwide, and recommends, develops, and implements policies and programs to address such concerns.
Honouring Deborah, the office wrote, “In May, a mob brutally stoned, flogged, and burned to death college student Deborah Samuel in Nigeria, in an attack fueled by hatred and blasphemy allegations, even as authorities attempted to stop it. We honor her life as we continue the work to end such vicious violence.”
One Year After
However, one year after the incident, the prime suspect who was boasting in the video of how he led the mob to lynch the innocent girl, is still at large.
It was alleged that the two suspects who were in May 2022, remanded in the Sokoto Correctional Centre, may have been freed.
The Spokesperson of the Sokoto Police Command, DSP Sanusi Abubakar on Thursday when asked to clarify the allegations that some of the suspects were freed, said, “If there is any allegation that the suspects have been freed, I think only the judiciary is in the position to answer that”.
He noted that the command had played its part by charging the suspects to court.
He said, “The police as an institution, when we charge a case to the court, it is left for the judge to determine whether the suspect is found guilty or not.
“Our duty as police agency is to conduct investigation, and charge the suspect to court. It is now in the hands of the court to determine the end.
“We as a police, we have played out parts it is now left for the judiciary to do the necessary”.
Nigerians React
A Catholic Priest, Fr Kelvin Ugwu in a post on his official Facebook page on Thursday, asked the State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigeria Police Force to tell Nigerians what happened to the suspects.
He wrote, “I am asking the Governor of Sokoto, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, please sir, where are the killers of Deborah? Have you found them? Where did you keep them? What did you do to them?
“I am asking President Muhammadu Buhari, where are the killers? Are they invisible? Have they been arrested?
“And to the Nigeria Police Force, what has happened to the swiftness you normally employ in arresting people who make posts on social media you consider inciting and divisive? What did you do to the killers of Ms Deborah? Where are the killers?”
@sayachiever said, “Oguike Kingsley said I think logically as to the precious value we placed on lives, those who pamper those who our mandate are those who are pampering those stole this beauty lady from us.”
https://twitter.com/sayachiever/status/1656895161308266498?t=gMYYdXyRc_bq-paB_B2p2Q&s=19
@ CitizenDama; asserted that; You guys talk as though the culprits/ hoodlums who murdered Deborah Yakubu are invisible. Hey! These guys made videos with their full faces and ears.
“Is this journalistic hypocrisy or what? They’re untouchable as the “Sons of the father” in Aso-Rock. They’d get palliative soon.”
https://twitter.com/CitizenDama/status/1656917962341732354?t=gG1OjcWI9iQUcAdNOemiUA&s=19
@Braingain162 noted; So, the perpetrators of these mindless killings are allowed to roan the street as free men/women. Why is it that the Nigerian Police Force are helpless when it comes to these religious killings in the northern part of the country? Just don’t understand.
https://twitter.com/Braingain162/status/1656927303593590785?t=TYmidKevFXS103gfVq-YRA&s=19
Açcording to @oyedeji77896605 “The corrupt government is happy about her murder. They hope we will move on. We will never forget our daughter. You murderous devil worshippers claiming Islam will be abandoned in hell by the grace of God.”
https://twitter.com/oyedeji77896605/status/1656862512850034690?t=15GSLr7FC0YAQK4fdRp-ng&s=19
@Chineny83860840 affirmed that; “There is no such thing like justice in the contraption called Nigeria, The.Government knows those that killed Deborah, But would rather commend/reward them than arrest them, They are being sponsored by the Fulani extremists & terrorist government of Nigeria.”
https://twitter.com/Chineny83860840/status/1656933696237105153?t=spN2KtuRkNqlvva0CDErjg&s=19
Amnesty International calls For Justice
Amnesty International calls on Nigerian authorities to ensure that the killers of Deborah Yakubu over alleged blasphemy are brought to justice to prevent the creation of an environment in which violent mobs believe themselves entitled to take the law into their own hands.
A year after Deborah’s horrific lynching in Sokoto, it is clear that the failure to prosecute rigorously and promptly those responsible, leads to a climate of impunity that further endangers right to life.
On 4 June 2022, Ahmad Usman, a 30-year-old member of a vigilante group, was killed in the Lugbe area of Abuja for alleged blasphemy. He was beaten and stoned to the point of losing consciousness. He was later set on fire by the mob.
On 30 March 2021, Talle Mai Ruwa — a popular water vendor was beaten and burnt to death in the presence of his mother at Sade village in Darazo LGA of Bauchi state, over alleged blasphemy — after the angry mob overran the police station where he was being detained.
The alarming uptick in blasphemy accusations underscores the urgency with which the authorities must wake up to Nigeria’s international legal obligations to respect and protect human rights, including freedom of religion, opinion and expression.
https://twitter.com/AmnestyNigeria/status/1656812245752356865?t=5zatdgrwMBKE67TNEAPVIw&s=19