UN-POLAC Condemns Killing of Deborah Samuel, Calls for Justice And Peace in Nigeria

UN-POLAC Celebrates International Day of Living Together in Peace on 16 May, 2022.

SO HEARTBREAKING: “Muslim youths attack Sultan of Sokoto Palace; demand release of Deborah’s killers

SO SAD: 34 lawyers defend suspected killers of Deborah Samuel in court in Nigeria

The UN-POLAC condemns killing of Deborah Samuel, calls for Justice, Equality and Peace in Nigeria as the world celebrates the International Day of Living Together in Peace on 16 May, 2022. Deborah Samuel’s barbaric and brutal murder needs to be brought to justice, according to the UN-POLAC Country President Amb. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies.
Deborah, a student at Sokoto’s Shehu Shagari College of Education, was assassinated by her classmates after they suspected her of making a disrespectful remark about Prophet Muhammed in an higher institution of learning.

On this issue of blasphemy, Nigerian Police Sokoto State Command has revealed names of Deborah Samuel’s killers. The identities of two suspects in the murder of Deborah Samuel have been identified on Monday. The prosecutor, Inspector Khalil Musa, named the suspects as Bilyaminu Aliyu and Aminu Hukunchi, both college students. As a result, the defendants were ordered to be remanded at the Sokoto Correctional Centre.

Again, The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, has criticised the unlawful killing of Deborah Samuel and demanded that justice should be ensured in the prosecution of the culprits. She said this on Tuesday via her Twitter page. Ms. Mohammed wrote, describing Deborah’s murder as “senseless”. “Justice must be done for the senseless, brutal killing of the young, Deborah Samuel in Nigeria and Religions should not be misinterpreted to preach violence when they are to be promoting peace. My prayers are with the family and for the repose of her soul,” she added.

The “International Day of Living Together in Peace” usually celebrated on 16 May, is a call for individuals, people, tribes, countries and nations of the world to be united in their differences and diversity. Living together in peace is all about accepting differences and having the ability to listen to, recognize, respect and appreciate others, as well as living in a peaceful and united way.

“The UN General-Assembly, in its resolution 72/130, declared 16 May the International Day of Living Together in Peace, as a means of regularly mobilizing the efforts of the international community to promote peace, tolerance, inclusion, understanding and solidarity. The Day aims to uphold the desire to live and act together, united in differences and diversity, in order to build a sustainable world of peace, solidarity and harmony.

“The Day invites countries to further promote reconciliation to help to ensure peace and sustainable development, including by working with communities, faith leaders and other relevant actors, through reconciliatory measures and acts of service and by encouraging forgiveness and compassion among individuals.

“The declaration of United Nations came about as a result of the long-held and cherished concept — contained within the Constitution of UNESCO — that “since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.” The Declaration embraces the principle that peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but also requires a positive, dynamic participatory process, in which dialogue is encouraged and conflicts are resolved in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation.

“The Declaration also recognizes that to fulfil such an aspiration, there is a need to eliminate all forms of discrimination and intolerance, including those based on race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.

Following the ugly incident on blasphemy, the Country President of United Nations Positive Livelihood Award Centre (UN-POLAC) International Peace Advocates, Bishop Amb. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies in Nigeria, also thanked Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere in Port Harcourt for awards of scholarships to all Deborah siblings, and his offer to relocate the entire family to Rivers State.

She urges all Nigerians especially the Christian community to emulate such philanthropic gesture displayed by The General Overseer of Omega Power Ministry (OPM), Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere. Kudos to Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, the general overseer of OPM and kudos to the OPM Church for their pro-active response.

Late Deborah Samuel, a 200-level student of the Department of Home Economic of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, was killed by fellow students on Friday, following an allegation that she had blasphemed Muhammed (SAW), the Prophet of Islam on Thursday, when she cautioned them to stick to lecture conversation on WhatsApp group rather than religious discourse.

“Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, the General Overseer of OPM Church has offered to relocate them to Port Harcourt. “They would be staying in one of the OPM free estates where they will never pay rents forever. All their children are given automatic scholarship in OPM free schools. He added, “I will get the father a job and I will also open a shop for the mother.”

Although, the parents of the slain, Emmanuel Garba and Alheri Emmanuel while speaking said, “that they have handed everything over to God,, “We can’t say or do anything, except to take it easy as an act of God. We have left all to God, we have decided to take it like that.” The CP of UN-POLAC commended the efforts of the State and Federal governments on the arrest of the culprits to secure justice for Deborah.

Adesanya-Davies further noted, “It’s so sad to read following the incident that, “Muslim youths attack Sultan of Sokoto Palace; demand release of Deborah’s killers” on May 14, 2022 in a report by Newsflash. The Sultan of Sokoto’s Palace was on Saturday under siege by the youth demanding the release of the alleged killers of Deborah Samuel; after she was killed in a mob outrage, with the state government immediately closing down the school while police announced the arrest of two persons in connection with the incident. “It’s a serious thing that there is even no respect event for the aged Sultan!” She added.

It is also disheartening to be informed that, “34 lawyers are willing to defend suspected killers of Deborah Samuel in court in Nigeria. In a report titled, “34 lawyers defend suspected killers of Deborah Samuel in court” as published by Michael Adesina on 16th May, 2022. “A total number of thirty-four lawyers defended Bilyaminu Aliyu and Aminu Hukunci, the suspected killers of Deborah Samuel, in court today.” The defence team was led by Prof. Mansur Ibrahim.

The suspects who were co-students of the deceased were docked at a Sokoto Chief Magistrate’s Court for their alleged participation in the crime. When asked to take their pleas, they pleaded not guilty to the crime. Prosecuting Inspector Khalil Musa told the court that an investigation was in progress as Deborah’s corpse was still in a morgue at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto.”

The leader of the defence team, Prof. Mansur Ibrahim then applied for the bail of the suspects on liberal terms, citing constitutional provisions and sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, while the trial judge (name withheld for security reasons), while he reserved the ruling on the bail application and ordered the accused to be remanded.

Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state has consequently imposed a 24-hour curfew on Sokoto metropolis on Saturday. The deceased was buried on Saturday in her hometown in Niger State. Adesanya-Davies thus prays for the family of the deceased and calls for peace in Sokoto state and Nigeria. The UN-POLAC Peace Magnate also used the opportunity to call for international peace in Ukraine and Russia and other places engulfed with wars in our world.