Tobias Sylvester
Sokoto State Police Command has revealed the suspected killers of a Shehu Shagari College of Education student, Deborah Samuel, are still at large.
Deborah Samuel
KanyiDaily recalls that on May 22, Deborah was beaten and burnt to death by her Muslim colleagues over alleged blasphemous remarks considered to be an insult to Prophet Mohammed.
Deborah’s death sparked outrage and condemnation across the country, with some Nigerians accusing security agents of abandoning the Christian student to be attacked and killed by the Muslim mob.
On May 12, two suspects, Bilyaminu Aliyu and Aminu Hukunci were arrested and arraigned before a magistrate court sitting in Sokoto where they pleaded not guilty to the murder of Deborah.
Speaking during an interview with Punch, Sokoto police spokesman, DSP Sanusi Abubakar said the two suspects remanded in prison were not the prime suspects but only among those who organized the mob that killed Deborah.
Abubakar further said that the prime suspects were still at large, adding that efforts are ongoing to arrest them to arrest the suspected killers.
He said, “Those ones we arrested then, though not the suspected killers, contributed to the violent riot and were arraigned in court where the judge ordered that they should be remanded
“Concerning those suspected killers, we have circulated their pictures to media houses and sent our intelligence to every part of the state.
“We are still on the lookout for them and we are confident of arresting them wherever they may be hiding. We will flush them out and arraign them before a competent court of law.’’
Abubakar promised that the command would not be biased on the case, adding that the state Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Gumel, would ensure that justice was served.
KanyiDaily recalls that British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing has condemned the killing of Deborah Samuel, adding that the authorities must ensure that the perpetrators of the act are brought to justice.
