We Have Not Arrested The Real Killers Of Deborah Samuel - Police

The Nigeria Police, Sokoto command has disclosed that the real killers of Deborah Samuel are still at large.

The Command's spokesperson, Sanusi Abubakar, stated this on Sunday in an interview with The Punch.

Abubakar said those arrested and arraigned before a magistrate court only contributed to the violent riot.

On May 12, Emmanuel, a female student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, was attacked by a mob and set ablaze over comments purportedly considered to be an insult to Prophet Mohammed.

In May, a magistrate court sitting in Sokoto remanded two suspects — Bilyaminu Aliyu and Aminu Hukunci — arrested in connection with Emmanuel’s murder.

During the court proceedings, the suspects pleaded not guilty to the murder of the deceased.

However, Abubakar said both Aliyu and Hukunci were not the prime suspects but only among those who organised the riot.

He added that efforts are ongoing to arrest them to arrest the killers.

“Those we arrested then, though not the suspected killers, contributed to the violent riot and were arraigned in court where the judge ordered that they should be remanded. Concerning those suspected killers, we have circulated their pictures to media houses and sent our intelligence to every part of the state,” the command spokesperson said.

“We are still on the lookout for them and we are confident of arresting them wherever they may be hiding. We will flush them out and arraign them before a competent court of law.’’

Recall that the United States Department of State has recently honoured Deborah Samuel. In marking the US International Day Commemorating the Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, on August 22, Deborah’s picture was uploaded on the website of the US Office of Religious Freedom.

The office promotes universal respect for freedom of religion or belief for all as a core objective of U.S. foreign policy.

It also monitors religiously motivated abuses, harassment, and discrimination worldwide, and recommends, develops, and implements policies and programs to address such concerns.

Honouring Deborah, the office wrote, “In May, a mob brutally stoned, flogged, and burned to death college student Deborah Samuel in Nigeria, in an attack fueled by hatred and blasphemy allegations, even as authorities attempted to stop it. We honor her life as we continue the work to end such vicious violence.”