Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal has declared a 24-hour curfew within the city to prevent the spread of civil unrest following the death of Miss Deborah Samuel.
On Saturday, he announced the curfew at the Government House in Sokoto, the state capital.
Deborah, a second-year student at Sokoto State’s Shehu Shagari College of Education, was assassinated on Thursday on suspicion of blasphemy against Muhammad (SAW), the prophet of Islam.
According to the governor, the curfew has become necessary as the only option left for the government to prevent a breakdown of law and order in the state.
“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,” he said.
“I appeal to the good people of Sokoto state to kindly continue to observe law and order and calm down (on the) restiveness currently pervading in the metropolis. Everyone should, please, in the interest of peace go back home and observe this measure with a view to the re-establishment of peace, law, and order in the state.
“It is not in the interest of anyone for us to have a breakdown of law and order. I, therefore, appeal for restraint and, for people to observe and respect the rule of law.”
Deborah’s death has sparked outrage from various individuals and groups across the country, including the Christian community who demanded that her killers be brought to justice.