The governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Tambuwal, has declared a 24-hour curfew to quell protests demanding the release of suspects arrested in connection with the killing Deborah Samuel Yakubu.
Deborah was beaten and burned by fellow students at the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, on Thursday over alleged blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad.
Protests erupted following the arrest of two students by police and a search for other suspects who appeared in footage of the gruesome murder of Deborah, which circulated online.
The governor said in a statement on Saturday that the curfew applies to the state capital, Sokoto city.
“Everyone should, please, in the interest of peace go back home,” Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of people demonstrated in the city over the arrest of the students allegedly involved in the murder.
Youths took to the streets, lighting bonfires and demanding the release of the two detainees despite the deployment of police officers to maintain order.
Some of the protesters besieged the palace of Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, the sultan of Sokoto, who had condemned the killing and demanded those involved face justice.
“It was more of a riot by a mob of young men and women who were demanding the release of the two people arrested over the killing of the Christian student,” Sokoto resident Ibrahim Arkilla told AFP.
“The crowd … were also demanding the police stop the manhunt for those identified to have taken part in the killing,” said Arkilla, who witnessed the protests.
A large number of protesters besieged the palace of Abubakar, said resident Bube Ando, who lives near the palace, adding that police first tried to ask the protesters to leave.
“Policemen and soldiers who stood outside the palace hurled tear gas canisters and fired into the air and succeeded in dispersing the crowd,” he said, without giving details about whether anyone was hurt.
The protesters retreated downtown where they attempted to loot shops belonging to Christian residents but were again dispersed by security patrol teams, said another resident Faruk Danhili.
President Muhammadu Buhari has strongly condemned the murder of the student, demanding respect from Muslims and Christians alike for Prophets Muhammad (SAW) and Isah (Jesus).
(AFP)
