Atiku pulls down his statement condemning murder of Deborah Samuel after getting threats

FORMER vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has pulled down his condemnation of the murder of college of education student Deborah Samuel after several northern groups threatened to withdraw their support for his presidential campaign.

Yesterday, Ms Samuel, 22, a 200 Level student at the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, was lynched by an irate mob after being accused of blaspheming against the Prophet Mohammed. Her attackers had chased her to the college's security post, overpowered the guards there and them stoned her to death before setting her ablaze.

Immediately news of the gruesome murder broke, it was condemned nationwide, and Alhaji Abubakar posted a statement on his WhatsApp platform saying it was unacceptable. He however, took down his message which has called for all those behind the killing to be brought to book.

Atiku had written: “There cannot be a justification for such gruesome murder. Deborah Yakubu was murdered and all those behind her death must be brought to justice. My condolences to her family and friends.”

However, some religious fanatics with Islamic names stormed the comment sections of Atiku's social media platforms, particularly on Facebook, threatening to withdraw their support for his 2023 presidential ambition. After numerous threats, the posts were deleted from Alhaji Atiku Abubakar's social media handles.

Writing on his Facebook page earlier today, Atiku said he did not give approval for the post. He said: "I received information that a post was made that doesn’t agree with my orders. I use this to announce that any post without AA is not from me. May God protect – AA.”

Following the incident, the Shehu Shagari College of Education authorities shut down the school indefinitely as tension rose. Governor Aminu Tambuwal has already held meetings with religious leaders across Sokoto State to try and address the issue.