May 14, (THEWILL) – Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, on Saturday, declared a 24-hour curfew in the state.
The Governor, in a statement, issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mohammed Bello, said the curfew “is in pursuance of peace and order in Sokoto metropolis and the entire state, following the death of a second-year student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto.”
THEWILL earlier reported that some residents of the State, had on Saturday, embarked on a mass protest against the arrest of two suspects, allegedly involved in the murder of the student, Deborah Samuel Yakubu, over alleged blasphemy on Thursday morning.
Deborah was violently stoned to death and later set ablaze by angry mob, who were mostly students of the college.
Following the incident, the Sokoto State Police Command said two suspects were arrested and taken into custody.
According to the Sokoto Police spokesman, Sanusi Abubakar, the mob overpowered campus security, before killing the female student and setting her remains on fire.
However, following the protest against the arrest of the suspected murderers on Saturday, Governor Tambuwal, in a statement, imposed a 24-hour curfew.
The statement reads in part; “Following the sad incident that happened at the Shehu Shagari College of Education on Thursday and sequel to the developments within (Sokoto) metropolis this morning till afternoon, by the powers conferred on me by sections 176(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; and section 1 and 4 of the Public Order Act; and, also Section 15 of Sokoto State Peace Preservation Law, I hereby declare, with immediate effect, a curfew within (Sokoto) metropolis of Sokoto township for the next 24 hours.
“I appeal to the good people of Sokoto state to kindly continue to observe law and order and calm down (on the) restiveness currently pervading in the metropolis.
“Everyone should, please, in the interest of peace, go back home and observe these measures, with a view of the reestablishment 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.”
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