Alleged blasphemy: Buhari condemns lynching on college student in Sokoto

President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the mob attack on a second-year student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Deborah Samuel.

The Informant247 had reported that Deborah was alleged to have blasphemed against Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the Prophet of Islam on Thursday.

Reacting to the incident, Buhari said the news of the killing of the young lady by fellow students was a matter of concern and demanded an impartial, extensive probe into all that happened before and during the incident.

The President noted that Muslims all over the world demand respect for the Holy Prophets, including Isah (Alaihissalaam, Jesus Christ) and Muhammad (SAW) but where transgressions occur, as alleged to be the case in this instance, the law does not allow anyone to take matters into their hands.

“No person has the right to take the law in his or her own hands in this country. Violence has and never will solve any problem,” said the President.

He directed the Ministries of Information and Culture, Police Affairs and of Communications and Digital Economy to work with GSM providers and tech companies to help contain the spread of false and inflammatory information through social media.

Buhari extended the nation’s condolences to the family of the deceased student and wished all those injured a quick recovery.

He commended the immediate response to the incident by the Government and urged religious and community leaders to call citizens’ attention to the need to exercise the right to freedom of speech responsibly.

The President, however, called for tampered comments by the media and calm among the general population while investigation is ongoing.