The suspects involved in the brutal killing of Christian female student, Deborah Samuel, have been released, as reported by Sahara Reporters. The reason for their release was attributed to the failure of Nigeria Police prosecutors to appear in court.
The Sokoto State Police Command acknowledged that the suspects had been taken to court on charges of “inciting and disturbance.” However, the police clarified that they cannot be held responsible if the court absolved the suspects of the charges.
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Deborah Samuel, a student at Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, was tragically attacked and burnt to death by a mob on May 12, 2022, following remarks deemed offensive to Prophet Mohammed.
Subsequently, two suspects, Bilyaminu Aliyu and Aminu Hukunci, were arrested and appeared in a Sokoto State Magistrate Court in relation to her murder. Despite pleading not guilty, the court discharged and acquitted them.
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According to the Sokoto Police Public Relations Officer, Rufai Ahmad, “On Deborah’s issue, police have done their part by arraigning people in court. Those people that were arrested, like you said, they were charged with inciting disturbance, which is a bailable offense. When we charged them to court, we have done our part. The court decided to vindicate them or release them; that is none of our business. That question should be directed to the court. We have done our own part.”
However, court documents reviewed by Sahara Reporters indicated that the suspects were released due to the failure of Nigerian police prosecutors to appear in court. The documents revealed a judgment delivered on January 30, 2023, by the Chief Magistrate Court I Gutwa, Sokoto.
The charges of criminal conspiracy and inciting public disturbance against the suspects could have led to a maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment if they were convicted.
