SECURITY personnel yesterday broke up a massive protest by youths in Sokoto who were demanding the immediate release of the suspects arrested in connection with Thursday’s lynching of a female student in the metropolis.
Governor Aminu Tambuwal followed it up with imposition of a 24-hour curfew on the city and a call for calm.
Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, fearing a spill-over of the Sokoto unrest, placed an immediate ban on protests in his own state.
The body of Deborah Samuel, the victim of the Thursday attack in Sokoto, was laid to rest last night in her home town in Niger State.
Her parents and other relations remained devastated by her death.
The murderers of the Shehu Shagari College of Education Sokoto student had accused her of blasphemy.
She was mobbed, stoned and clubbed to death, after which her body was set ablaze.
The Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fatih Society (NASFAT) Nigeria and the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) yesterday condemned her extra-judicial killing.
Soldiers, policemen and personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) as well as those of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) had confronted the Sokoto youths as they advanced on the palace of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar, to register their grievances.
The security personnel fired canisters of tear gas at the protesters when it appeared their action was getting out of hand.
A combined team of security men led by the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kamaludden Okunlola, stopped the protesters who were throwing stones and trying to burn the palace.
Religious centres were under tight security.
Some of the protesters soon regrouped away from the palace to molest residents but were again dispersed by security patrol teams.
The youths, some of whom carried placards calling for the release of the detained suspects, were shouting “Allahu Akbar”, translated in English as “God is the greatest.”
Others took over the streets, chanting songs and urging security agents to release the arrested persons.
The protesters burnt tyres on Ahmadu Bello Way, Emir Yahaya Road, Kanwuri and other streets, forcing shop owners to close midday while many streets became empty.
Hundreds of security personnel were subsequently deployed across the metropolis.
Bills inviting youths to participate in the protest had been shared overnight in the city.
They were asked to gather at Gawon Mama Roundabout at 9am.
Be calm, Tambuwal tells protesters, residents
Following the tension sparked by the Friday killing, the arrest of two suspects by the police and the protest demanding their release, Governor Tambuwal invoked Sections 176(2) of the Constitution, Sections 1 and 4 of the Public Order Act; and Section 15 of Sokoto State Peace Preservation Law, and imposed a curfew within the Sokoto metropolis for the next 24 hours.”
He appealed to the people to “kindly continue to observe law and order and calm down (on the) restiveness currently pervading in the metropolis.”
Everyone, he said, should “please, in the interest of peace, go back home and observe this measure with a view to the re-establishment of peace, law and order in the state.
“It is not in the interest of anyone for us to have a breakdown of law and order. I, therefore, appeal for restraint and, for people to observe and respect the rule of law.”
Governor Tambuwal met with security chiefs, leader of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Rev. Nuhu Iliya and Islamic religion leaders on Thursday to prevent the situation from escalating.
El-Rufai bans protests in Kaduna
Moments after curfew was imposed in Sokoto, Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai placed a ban on protests related to religious activity throughout the state with immediate effect.
The prohibition, according to Internal Security and Home Affairs Commissioner, Samuel Aruwan, “becomes imperative in view of moves by some unpatriotic elements to organise series of for-and-against protests related to a security development in one of the Northern Nigerian States.”
He added: “The Kaduna State Government, in consultation with security agencies under the umbrella of the Kaduna State Security Council, has placed a ban on protests related to religious activity throughout the state with immediate effect.
“Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, who has been briefed of the development, has charged security agencies to ensure strict enforcement of this ban against any form of religious protest in the state.
“The Governor also charged religious leaders, community leaders and traditional rulers throughout the state to complement the efforts of government and security agencies towards the maintenance of peace and stability.
“Security agencies have thus resolved that any attempt by individuals or groups to disrupt the peace and stability of the state by way of religious protests will not be condoned. Such protests will be promptly halted and conveners prosecuted.
“Citizens are implored to remain calm as they go about their lawful pursuits, and to immediately report any such activity or security concern to the Kaduna State Security Operations Room on 09034000060 and 08170189999. “
Deborah buried in Niger
The deceased was laid to rest at about 6.30 last night at the Christian Cemetery in her home town of Tunga Magajiya, Rijau Local Government area of Niger State amidst protest by youths in the area that the Sokoto State Government should have taken responsibility for the funeral.
The funeral service was conducted by Deborah’s uncle, Emmanuel Maaji, who is also an Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) pastor in Tunga Magajiya.
The bereaved father was said to have been unconscious since she heard the news on Thursday with her blood pressure shooting up dangerously. Her father has been inconsolable, family sources said.
Maaji said the family wanted the burial done immediately.
He said the parents were not happy with the way the Sokoto State Government handled the matter.
He said: “The government only called and said that it was not right for the family to take the body like that without informing them.
“They said that they shouldn’t bury the body as the body is for the government and not for the family.
“They asked them to put the body in the mortuary.”
It was gathered that Deborah spent much of her life, including attending primary school, in Sokoto.
Extra-judicial killing alien to Islam – NASFAT
An Islamic group, Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fatih Society (NASFAT) Nigeria, yesterday condemned the extra-judicial killing of Deborah Samuel by a mob in Sokoto.
The Chief Missioner NASFAT, Imam Abdul Azeez Onike, said in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Abdul Akeem-Yusuf, that the incident was condemnable.
