CPFN condemns killing of Deborah, seeks justice

.By Emmanuel Kehinde, ilorin

Pastor Dr. E. S. Awojide, National Chairman of the Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (CPFN), has condemned the killing of Deborah Emmanuel describing the act as inhuman, criminal and illegal.

This is contained in a statement by Elder Segun Bamidele, CFPN National Publicity Secretary on Tuesday in Ilorin.

The national chairman, therefore, called on Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and President Muhammadu Buhari to, as a matter of urgency to bring the people behind the gruesome murder of Deborah Yakubu to book.

This, he said was to ensure that justice is served to serve as a deterrent to other criminal elements using religion as a cover.

Deborah Yakubu, a 200-level Home Economic Student of Sheu Shagari College of Education Sokoto State was stoned to death and burnt for alleged blasphemy to Prophet Mohammed.

He condemned the heinous incident in the strongest terms, and called for the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of all culprits, and not just the two already arrested.

According to the CPFN National Chairman, the laws of the land does not allow anyone to take the life of another fellow human being under any
pretense.

He commiserated with the family of Deborah Yakub and all Christians in Sokoto State and Nigeria at large, urging them to maintain calm and orderliness in face of the challenge.

Awojide, however, insisted that it was not enough for the Sultan of Sokoto and the head of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria to issue a press statement.

According to him the Sultan as leader should openly preach to all Muslims never to attack or kill any person for whatever reason, but to report any allegation of infringement of any law, or custom to the
police for investigation, and never to take laws into their hands.

The CFPN advised the Sultan to do this openly in the mosque, and on national television to carry weight and convinced Muslims that killing
others for blasphemy was not the appropriate things to do..

“The Sultan should let his followers know the consequences of violation of all human rights guaranteed in under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Awojide said.

Edited by Felix Ajide

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