Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar, and the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, have condemned the killing of a female student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto.
They also called for calm over the incident, saying it had nothing to do with religion.
In separate statements, the two religious leaders urged security agencies to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
Atiku, a presidential aspirant in the 2023 elections on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took to Twitter to condemn the dastardly act in Sokoto.
“There can not be a justification for such gruesome murder. Deborah Yakubu was murdered, and all those behind her death must be brought to justice. My condolences to her family and friends,” he tweeted.
Bishop Kukah said the killing was inhuman and condemnable.
“I have just received with deep shock the news of the tragedy that occurred at the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, leading to the gruesome murder of Ms Deborah Yakubu, a 200 level Home Economics student today,” the venerated cleric said.
“We condemn this incident in the strongest terms and call on the authorities to investigate this tragedy and ensure that all the culprits are brought to book.
“The only obligation that is owed her immediate family, her fellow students and the school authorities is the assurance that those who are guilty of this inhuman act, no matter their motivation, are punished according to the extant laws of the land.
“This has nothing to do with religion. Christians have lived peacefully with their Muslim neighbours here in Sokoto over the years.
“This matter must be treated as a criminal act and the law must take its cause.
“Meanwhile, I wish to call on all Christians in Sokoto and around to remain calm and to please pray for the repose of the soul of Ms Deborah.
“It is the first obligation that we owe her. May God grant her eternal rest and console her immediate family.”
The Sultan of Sokoto’s position was made known through a statement by the Sultanate Council Sokoto, which was signed by the secretary, Sa’idu Muhammadu Maccido.
The statement reads: “The Sultanate Council has learnt with dismay the unfortunate happenings at the Shehu Shagari College of Education (SSCOE) Sokoto that led to the loss of life of a female student of the institution.
“The Sultanate Council condemned the incident in its totality and has urged the security agencies to bring perpetrators of the unjustifiable incident to justice.
“The Sultanate Council has urged all to remain calm and ensure peaceful co-existence among all people of the state and nation.”
