Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State has imposed curfew in the state capital as a means of controlling violence that erupted over the arrest of the killers of Deborah Samuel, a student of Shehu Shagari College of Education who was alleged to have blasphemed Prophet Muhammad.
In a broadcast to the people of the state today, May 14, the Governor said: “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.”
Governor Tabuwal, who appealed to the people to continue to observe law and order and calm down against the backdrop of the restiveness currently pervading in the metropolis, begged everyone to, in the interest of peace, go back home and observe the measures, with a view of the reestablishment 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.”