NSCEA Condemns and Mourns Martyrdom Of DEBORAH YAKUBU By Muslim Students At Shehu Shagari College Of Education, Sokoto

Nigerian Supreme Council For Ecclesiastical Affairs (NSCEA) condemns and mourns our Sister DEBORAH YAKUBU’s martyrdom; as Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) directs all Christians to embark on NATIONWIDE PROTEST ON MAY 22, 2022. CAN has set aside May 22, 2022 for a nationwide protest over the gruesome murder of Miss Deborah Yakubu, a 200 level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto on Thursday,12th May. CAN, in a statement by its General Secretary, Barr. Joseph Daramola, on Saturday, said that the protest will take place within church premises at 3pm to avoid further losses.

The notice of the planned strike was sent to block leaders, zonal chairmen, state chairmen, local coordinators, denominational and church leaders. CAN called on all Nigerian Christians to join the protest by using all the nation’s embassies all over the world for the peaceful protest. He said that the protest would also be used to call to an end the murders carried out in the name of fighting for God and Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) and to pray for the family and friends of the late Deborah, the country and godly political leaders in the next election.

The statement reads, “I have been directed by the CAN President, His Eminence, Rev. Dr Samson Olasupo A. Ayokunle, to request all Church Leaders, through your various Churches to organise peaceful protests in honour of one of our daughters, Deborah Yakubu, who was gruesomely murdered on Thursday, May 12, 2022, at the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto in Sokoto State by some Islamic extremists.

“The protest will take place on May 22, 2022, in the afternoon by 3:00 pm in every Secretariat of the Christian Association of Nigeria nationwide and not on the streets in order to avoid further loss of lives. Those without CAN’s Secretariat may use any church with big premises. We are to hold placards with some succinct messages like, ‘WE DEMAND JUSTICE FOR DEBORAH’, ‘NO MORE KILLING IN GOD’S NAME’, ‘ENOUGH IS ENOUGH’, ‘POLICE, STOP UNPROVOKED KILLINGS IN NIGERIA’, ‘CHRISTIANS ARE NOT SECOND CLASS CITIZENS’, ‘KILLERS OF DEBORAH MUST BE PROSECUTED’, ‘WE CONDEMN RELIGIOUS KILLINGS’, ‘WE SAY NO TO ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS’ ‘STOP KILLING CHRISTIANS IN NIGERIA’, etc.

“We urge those who could afford to make use of the traditional media, social media and others to give it wide coverage in order to sensitise the whole world. We also call on Nigerian Christians in the diaspora to join us using our embassies all over the world. The occasion can also be used to pray for Deborah’s family and friends, peace for the country, victory for the Church and godly political leaders in the coming general election.”

The full account of the incident as recalled, “Miss Deborah Yakubu, a 200 level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education and a female student was burnt alive on Thursday 12th May, 2022 over alleged blasphemy. The student, who was accused of insulting Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W), was beaten to pulp and burnt to death. Another account explained that she has refused a marriage proposal to her by a Muslim boy that she would not marry an unbeliever and it was alleged as blasphemy.

“In a video of the incident seny by some correspondents, young males hurled stones at her. Some also used sticks and different objects to hit her. When the victim fell to the ground unconsciously, the attackers gathered tyres around her and she was set ablaze. She was said to be asked to apologize but refused and this heightened tension in the school. The college security personnel had to intervene by whisking her to their office but they were overwhelmed by the barbaric students, who later set her ablaze,” the source said.

Briefing reporters at Government House, Sokoto, Commissioner of Information, Isa Bajini Galadanchi, said Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal had ordered that the school be shut and directed the ministry of Higher Education and relevant security agencies to investigate the matter. “The Governor has called on the people of the state to remain calm and maintain peace as the government would take appropriate actions on the findings of the investigation,” Bajini said. Some of these perpetrators have been arrested by the police.

However, following the protest in the state against the arrest, “The Sokoto State Chief Imam, Dr. Sheikh Mansour has called on Nigerian police to quickly release those arrested over the gruesome murder of Deborah. The Imam also called to immediately reopen the Shehu Shagari College of Education where the incident happened which has been shut by the state government; as Sokoto residents began mass protest over police arrest of suspected killers of female student, claim suspects were defending Islam, Prophet Muhammed.

Thus, Pastor Paul Enenche has set Internet on fire in his writing titled, “Enough Is Enough: What Christians Need To Do”. In his words, “Let’s assume the Law says the punishment for murdering someone is not death, then what does the Bible tell us? In Genesis 9:6, the killer should not just walk as a free man. In Exodus 22:2, if a man wants to destroy other people and the people he came to destroy attacked him, there is nothing wrong. In Proverbs 26:27, whatever you ask shall be given to you. Let’s go to New Testament in the Book of Revelation 13:10, he that attacked must be attacked.”

Bishop Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, Secretary to the Elders Council, NSCEA on behalf of NSCEA, with a broken heart prays, may the soul of the martyr rest in perfect peace and may the Almighty God console the family and the entire body of Christ in Nigeria.

Bishop Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies
Secretary, Elders Council, NSCEA
Nigerian Supreme Council for Ecclesiastical Affairs.