Amnesty International Nigeria has berated the Nigerian government over its failure to prosecute the killers of a student of Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, Deborah Samuel, who was murdered over alleged blasphemy.
In May 2022, Ms Samuel was lynched and stoned to death by students of the institution for allegedly making denigrating comments against Prophet Muhammad, SAW.
Although the police had arrested some suspects in connection with the killing, nothing much has been heard of their investigation.
However, in a post on its X handle on Tuesday, the human rights group expressed surprise that the government had been silent even after footage of a raging fire and a man facing the camera, bragging that he killed and burned Ms Samuel.
The post read: “#Deborah Samuel was lynched by her schoolmates over alleged #blasphemy on 12 May 2022, in #Sokoto.
“More than a year after, the Nigerian authorities have failed to hold her killers to account.
“In a flagrant show of utter disdain for the sanctity of life and impunity, a video footage of a raging fire and a man facing the camera, bragging that he killed and burnt Deborah Samuel — while also brandishing a matchbox — was widely shared on social media.
“Consistent failure of the #Nigerian government to tackle violence in the name of religion has effectively sent the message that anyone can commit outrageous abuses and get away with it. This is unacceptable.”
