Protesting Sokoto youths demand release of students arrested over blasphemy killing

 

Some Muslim youths in Sokoto State on Saturday morning trooped out to the streets in their numbers to protest against those accusing them of resorting to self-help and jungle justice over the killing of a female student for alleged blasphemy.

 

The youths also called on the State Government as well as security agencies to as a matter of urgency release those arrested in connection with the killing.

 

Our correspondent, who came across the youths procession along Maiduguri road, saw the protesters armed with placards with different inscriptions while they were shouting “Allahu Akbar” translated in English as ‘God is great’.

 

It was gathered that the protest started at the roundabout of Zabira mall and they marched through Gao-nama onwards flyover within the state metropolis.

 

Meanwhile, combined team of security operatives including soldiers from the 8 Division, Police, DSS, and NSCDC were seen monitoring the protest and stationed in strategic positions to avert breakdown of law and order.

 

The victim, Deborah Emmanuel, a 200 level female student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, was mobbed and killed before his corpse was set ablaze within the school premises on Thursday.

 

The late Deborah was accused of blasphemy in a voicenote she dropped on her class’ WhatsApp platform, in which she was alleged to have blasphemed Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

 

Before today’s protest, invitation had been sent out by some youths calling on all Muslim youths in the state to assemble for a peaceful protest starting from 9 am today to call for the release of those arrested in connection with the Thursday’s incident.