Governor Aminu Tambuwal, of Sokoto State, has declared a 24-hour curfew within the metropolis to forestall civil unrest over the death of Deborah Samuel, a student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education.
Recall that Deborah was killed on Thursday, May 12, following an allegation that she had blasphemed 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”, the governor announced.
“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”, he further said.
