Nigerians and indeed the whole world watched in horror and disbelief on social media as some religious extremists at Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto descended heavily on a hapless and defenceless Christian lady that went by the name of Deborah Samuel with cudgels and any weapon that came handy until her slight frame laid limp and lifeless in one heap. Dissatisfied with the jungle justice that it meted to the young lady that was alleged to have blasphemed the name of holy Prophet of Islam (PBUH), the mob went ahead to set her remains on fire. The incident was reported to have occurred on the College Campus on 12th May, 2022 before the glaring eyes of some School officials that attempted to shield her from the mob and later subjected her to appropriate school disciplinary and legal procedures. According to reports, the late student had taken a swipe at some of her colleagues that were fond of posting religious materials on their class’ common social media platform as opposed to the academic purposes for which it was created. In what was alleged to be a furious response to one of her mates that defended or justified posting of religious materials on their platform as being in obedience
to injunctions of their Prophet, she was said to have made an uncomplimentary remark
about the prophet. As a result some of her mates began to bay for her blood over what they termed as a ‘blasphemous’ response. What began as angry heckling and shoving soon turned to a mob action and before long the life of the late young lady was in danger. Sensing that time was running out for the young lady, some of her mates (perhaps including some Muslim students) horded her quickly to the school security post where she was shielded temporarily by security staff. However, her reprieve was temporary as more persons, obviously including some outsiders that had heard about the sanctimonious impudence of late Miss Deborah poured into the school compound and converged at the security post calling for her death. Tried as the school’s security and other staff tried to prevent her death, the mob still had its way and lynched the poor lady before burning her corpse. This did not happen in one lawless Babana Republic of ‘Zamunda’ but in our own Sokoto State that was once credited as being among the few peaceful States in Nigeria. Perhaps not any more because even before this unfortunate incident, Sokoto State was under the siege of bandits, terrorists and criminals. This was unheard of in the seat of the Caliphate and one of the progressive Northern States. The lynching of the young Christian woman by some Islamic extremists therefore should not surprise many of us. My take in the matter however is on the growing cultures of unguarded outbursts and intolerance among Nigerian youths of this generation. Self and mutual respect are no longer regarded as virtues anymore by our youths as they are quick to employ all manners of foul language and violence to counter remarks or actions of others that they are not comfortable with or that do not seat well with their temperament. This was not the case with those of us that were born and raised in late 60s and early 70s in this country. I remember that when we were growing up as kids up to our adolescent age, our parents taught us to respect others and their religion or opinions especially when these differ from ours. I cannot forget an occasion during my childhood when one of a co-mischief maker in my class and my best friend made jest of me after a Christian Religious Knowledge lesson in which we we were taught that Jesus turned water into wine. In those days, it does not matter what religion one professed as all the pupils in our Army Children School were taught snipets of both Christian and Islamic religions together. So when Musa my closest friend fetched me out from a sweet potato farm close to our school where we habitually foraged for a tuber of two of the raw delicacy after school to state jokingly to
me while doning a mischievous that ‘so your Jesus also drank alcohol?’, I was beyond furious. I made straight for their house with the poor lad trailing and begging me not to report what he told me to his Muslim parents. I wished I listened to him because I regretted the type of beating that his hitherto taciturn father gave my friend that day. His body was so sore from the lashes that he skipped classes for almost a week. I did not go
Scot-free too as I received a few whacks on my buttocks complemented by some callous knocks on the head for being responsible for my friend’s ordeal over an issue my mother considered infantile ignorance. I remember my mother going over to Musa’s parent house every evening to check on the poor boy until he resumed school. The champion sweets and goody-goody chocolate pieces that my mother tied to edges of her wrapper each time that she went made me jealous of Musa even though I did not covet the type of punishment that he got from his father whom many considered as a pious man in the community. On the day that my friend resumed back in school, he ignored all my friendly overtures and it took some time before we smoothened out jagged ends of our friendship. My mother sat me down after evening meal on the day that my friend resumed back in school and admonished me seriously never to denigrate any religion or religious figure under any pretence or circumstance. She added that if anyone denigrates mine or any of my religious figures, I should simply walk away from such and never start an argument of any kind. My mother concluded by telling me that all religions ( I can’t tell if she included traditional religion because I knew that she abhorred paganism) were given by God to guide and inspire humanity on the right paths here on earth and to guarantee them paradise when we die. Her words stuck with me into my adult years even when I began to witness religious intolerance and uprisings as a young man in Kaduna. Similarly, we were taught in our homes in yore years not to insult anyone or use foul languages on anyone even when we were provoked. Particularly insolents relating to human genitalia or deformity or innuendos about our parents or seniors were not only prohibited but abhorred completely. Any child that ran foul of these rules outside his or her home risked receiving multiple punishments first from adults that were in sight when the offence was committed and later from the parents whenever the offender returned home. That was our Nigerian society until we began to copy some alien cultures and civilizations under different guises. We soon began to see ourselves through the prisms of our various religions and cultures. Those that practise our religion or culture are our brothers, sisters or friends. Those that practise other religions and cultures are outsiders and enemies. This was what gave rise to the bunch of uncouth, arrogant and violent youths that we have all over Nigeria today. Yes, Deborah was right to remind her Coursemates that they were using their common social media platform for purposes other than which it was created for. She and other members of the platform that adhered to the rules of the platform rightly deserved apologies from those that violated the rule of engagement of the platform. Instead, what she got was a remorseless justification for the infraction since religion takes precedence over all other considerations in Nigeria. If late Deborah were to belong in my generation, may be she would have thoughtfully and quietly exited the platform knowing how religion can easily ignite an inferno of intolerance and violence in our country. After all, it’s not compulsory for any member of her course to remain on the platform. Rather, according to the account circulating in social media, she got infuriated by the insensitive answer that she got from one of those that was violating the rule of their platform and in a fit of anger, replied him in the manner and language of their generation. Regrettably, she now lies stiff and charred in the bowel of Mother earth thanks to actions of a fanatical mob that killed her in cold blood and set her warm remains on fire. Dissatisfied with the brazen murder of the young woman, the mob descended on some Christian targets in Sokoto with arson, looting and destruction while openly abusing and disavowing their Government and some spiritual leaders that dared to condemn its thoughtless actions. This incident is not good for our nation especially in this period of pervasive poverty and insecurity. Unless we handle it carefully, there is a clear and present danger of the degenerate mob action being hijacked by terrorists, insurgents, bandits and other criminals lurking everywhere in Nigeria to heighten insecurity in the country. The incident is also capable of igniting reprisal actions elsewhere in Nigeria that could plunge the country into religious war. But thank God that many prominent Nigerians and religious leaders across religious divides condemned the actions of the fanatical Sokoto mob; insisting that although our late daughter may have spoken carelessly, it did not warrant anyone touching her let alone killing her in such a barbaric and gruesome manner. Some Islamic scholars even boldly held that the actions of the Sokoto mob had no place in Islam and that they acted in ignorance. On the strength of this therefore, there is need to enjoin our religious preachers to teach their followers temperance, respect for others, tolerance and appreciation of one another. Let late Deborah Samuel be the last Nigerian that will suffer in the hands of any extremist group that decides to take laws into its hands to violate the fundamental human right of others. Similarly, let all of us refrain from derogating other religions or persons of other religions no matter the justification. If and when religious fanatics choose to use religion as a bait to ventilate their dislike and hatred for any of us on account of our tribe, culture or our religious profession, let us be wary and refuse to swallow it. Parents should particularly teach their children and wards virtues of mutual respect and respect for all religions like my mother did way back. The arrogant and uncouth youths brimming with violent emotions all around us currently are symptoms of dysfunctional homes and a society where parents and guardians have relinquished their responsibilities to the internet. The onus is on us to raise responsible, decent and God fearing children as opposed to fanatics and extremists to forestall our nation from becoming a fertile ground for mob action, extra-judicial execution of persons that we oppose and ultimately religious war. Once again, our secular and religious leaders including many prominent Nigerians that boldly condemned the Sokoto incident in all ramifications deserve kudos. Same with Sokoto State Government that acted promptly to arrest the ugly situation. For those of us that kept a dignified silence when it is in our place to talk due to fear or because we approve of the actions of the fanatic mob, a day of reckoning shall soon come. All those that try to justify the actions of the protagonist and antagonists of the sad saga ignorantly, you have heard voices of truth and reason. You need to change for the good and betterment of our dear country. Like a popular Nigerian proverb says, ‘wherever wise elders are found, quarrels and fisticuffs are rarities.’ Thosd that spoke boldly and truthfully have practicaized the proverb and thus have averted a national calamity. Finally, let both Sokoto and the Federal Government of Nigeria ensure that perpetrators of the heinous crime, including some foreigners that were alleged to be involved be brought to justice speedily to send a clear signal to Nigerians and foreigners alike wherever that Nigeria will not allow anybody under any pretext to take the laws into his or her hands at any time on its soil. Similarly, let the School authority and representatives of Sokoto Government try and meet with the family of late Deborah Samuel to condole them with assurance to thd family, and by extension all Nigerians that the unfortunate incident of 12th May, 2022 at Shehu Shagari College of Education Sokoto in which a defenceless citizen lost her life does not represent what the State or its residents are in any way. Finally, while we commiserate with the family of late Deborah Samuel, let us also pray for the repose of her gentle soul. Amen