The Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, has declared a 24-hour curfew, with immediate effect in pursuance of peace and order in the entire state.
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mohammed Bello, in a statement on Saturday, said the curfew became necessary following growing tension created by the killing of Deborah Yakubu Samuel , a student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto.
Deborah was killed on Thursday by a mob, over an alleged blasphemy against Islam.
“Following the sad incident that happened at the Shehu Shagari College of Education on Thursday and sequel to the developments within (Sokoto) metropolis this morning till afternoon, by the powers conferred on me by sections 176(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; and section 1 and 4 of the Public Order Act; and, also Section 15 of Sokoto State Peace Preservation Law, I hereby declare, with immediate effect, a curfew within (Sokoto) metropolis of Sokoto township for the next 24 hours.”
But on Saturday morning, some Muslim youths in Sokoto took to the streets to protest against the arrest of the suspects.
The youths asked the police to release the arrested suspects.
The protesters were armed with placards that read: “Release our Muslim brothers”, “Muslims Are Not Terrorists”, “Peaceful riot”.