Sokoto State Government, on Thursday, confirmed the death of a student at the Shehu Shagari College of Education (SSCOE) Sokoto, and ordered the closure of the institution indefinitely.
The student unrest was caused by an alleged blasphemy made by the deceased student against Islamic religion through a social media group.
The students, in mob outrage, traced the female student and killed her as well as burnt the corpse at the school security gate after overpowering the school securities.
The student, whose name was given as Deborah Samuel, was on Thursday burnt alive over an alleged comment against Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).
But, one of her colleagues who was crying, said Deborah only sent a voice note against posting of religious contents in their class group chat on WhatsApp.
In a video which has gone viral, she was beaten to a pulp before she was set ablaze.
In the video trending on social media, some young men, clearly visible, were seen hurling stones at the victim.
When the victim fell to the ground unconsciously, the attackers gathered tyres around her before she was set ablaze.
Addressing a news conference, the Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Isa Bajini-Galadunci, confirmed the student’s death and said the state government had ordered immediate closure of the school.
Bajini-Galadunci said Governor Aminu Tambuwal had directed the Ministry of Higher Education and other relevant agencies to commence investigation into the incident and report back to the state government.
The Commissioner said Tambuwal urged citizens to remain calm and law abiding, assuring them that appropriate action would be taken after the investigation.
Combined security operatives were deployed to the college as students were seen evacuating the campus.
