The reported murder and setting ablaze of Deborah Samuel, a student of Sheu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto is nothing but an act of callousness and immorality. However, the sad news hit the airwaves days back. I was engulfed with extremity of pain when the awful news online caught my sight online. The government, as a matter of urgency, should please expedite legal action to nab the perpetrators and they should be charged in court.
“He who kills ought to be killed”, I think, the 1999 constitution of Nigeria gives a full support to the assertion. Licitly, those unscrupulous perpetrators should also smell the bad odour of death, if not a complete death.
I’m yet to provide an answer to the question of what can trigger human being that blood runs in his vein to inflict injury to fellow human being not to talk of extinguishing of life over a mere blasphemy. Why can’t they wait for judgement to rain on them from heaven?
If I’m to write with how I’m extremely ungleeful, it may lead to something else entirely. But, as a peace builder and advocate of peace, I will be conscious of my expressions. I’m not a fanatic, therefore, I negate no religion. Why will I do it?
Indubitably, jungle justice is not allowed in Islam, this crystal assertion is substantiated with the reactions of top notch muslim clerics on social media to the alleged murder of Deborah.
The alleged maiming of an innocent Deborah who reportedly talked against the belief of the Islam faithfuls would have thrown tons of people, especially her parents to grave mourning. It’s terrible!
I have muslim adherents as relatives and friends, they are thought in the mosques and madrasahs in the way to maintain peace and tranquility. To butress it, my association with muslim friends made me to comprehend Prophet Muhammad ( S. A. W.) was a peacebuilder, not a peace breacher. Going against the rules and regulations of prophets is a sin. I think, apart from legal punishment, divine penalty will be dogging those evil doers.
The pitch at which religious bigotry had unleashed disintegration in the country, time and space will not be enough to state them all. Down the memory lane, I could recall I had an intimate muslim pal during my secondary school days, when it turns to religious discourse, he would never admit the fact of others. When utterances were made negating to his religious belief, fury would immediately be written in bold form on his face. In order not to ignite religious chaos and conflicts, we would have to diversify to another topic of discussion. That’s a danger of multi- religion.
In the political arena, religion has not been good. It’s a major causative factor of retrogression and backwardness in this country. In Nigeria, adherents of opponent religions have been epitheted as foes by people of low intellect.
When seeking a job especially in a private company, it’s now religion-based. The tendency of securing a job, if you aren’t of the same religion as those in charge the recruitment, there is every likelihood of not gaining the job.
To the best of little knowledge, I don’t think there’s any chapter or verse in both sacred books; the Bible and Quran where it’s written to take adherents of opposite religions as enemies. Without gainsaying, this attitude is exceptional to the traditional worshippers, their level of indulgence is higher.
Discussion about religious matters had now been a treacherous matter which people are technically drawing back from engaging in, particularly in this country. And we need to enlighten one another to bring those in darkness to the limelight of knowledge. Things can perpetuate to go like this, we are in a developing country.
No religion is supreme than the other. Christianity, Islam and traditional religion are equal. In the workplaces, offices, workshops, communities even schools, religion has wrecked many havocs. This is exasperating.
Termination of life just like that, I signed. Those hardhearted, barbaric people who callously send the female student will surely encounter the wrath of the judgment and face the dire consequence of their actions. If a Christian or a traditionalist engages in such a lugubrious act, punishing the person(s) won’t be regarded as a crime.
What cooled my tension about this issue is, that social media has been thronged with various posts by Muslim religion believers, negating the idea of the killing.
I believe the government won’t bequeath impunity to men of evil who think the cutting of the head is the cure for headaches. Even, wanting to convert someone to one’s religion shouldn’t be with coercion but with a high level of persuasion.
The blood of Deborah is profusely weeping for justice. I think the government will never pay a lackadaisical attitude to this serious issue. If the government gets serious with this case, presumably, it will decrease the level of religious crisis in the country at large. No religion legalizes murder.
Indubitably, those that participated in the gruesome act will be in a state of “had I known”. And who murders sleep shouldn’t have a cause to slumber at all.
I avail myself this very opportunuty to laud the Sultanate Sokoto for condemning the bad incident and calling for the the security agents to take legal actions to apprehend the perpetrators of the unjustifiable incident. I got to know the attention of this council has been drawn to this issue from the letter titled as “Press Release” which was signed by Danburan Sokoto Scribe, Sultanate Sokoto Council; Sa’idu Muhammadu Maccido, dated 12th May, 2022.
Sadly, that innocent girl has been buried. “What do you hope to achieve with this?” this was his last statement before she breathed her last.
May the Architect of the Universe grant her eternal rest. Also, may her parents, relatives, friends et cetera be bequeathed the succor or fortitude to bear the untimely and irreplaceable loss of the lady. May our hands never be controlled by satan. May we never be a prey of circumstance.
I’m not standing against any religion. I’m peace-oriented. I do away with any sort of actions that will wake trouble from its sleeping posture.
Peace and tranquility be unto you all.
