The Sokoto State Police Command has revealed that it is still on the lookout for the prime suspects responsible for the murder of Deborah Yakubu, a 200-level student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education. Deborah was killed in May 2022 by extremist Muslim students over alleged blasphemy against the Islamic Prophet, Mohammed bin Abdullah.
In an interview with Sunday , the Police Public Relations Officer, Sokoto State Police Command, Abubakar Sanusi, disclosed that several arrests had been made in connection to the murder, but the prime suspects are still at large.
Deborah was reportedly advising her classmates against posting religious contents on their department’s WhatsApp group which was meant for academic purposes when she was attacked, stoned, beaten with sticks, and immolated by some of her Muslim colleagues. Footage of the incident was widely circulated on social media platforms.
Following the incident, two suspects, Bilyaminu Aliyu and Aminu Hukunci, were arrested by the police. They were arraigned on May 16, 2022, at the Sokoto Chief Magistrate Court for their participation in the crime.
However, a group of 34 lawyers sponsored by public figures, led by Professor Mansur Ibrahim, appeared in court in defence of the suspected murderers.
DSP Sanusi confirmed that all the arrested suspects had been arraigned and remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sokoto State Correctional Centre since their arrest in 2022.
The case remains ongoing at Chief Magistrate Court 1 in Sokoto.
