Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo termed Debora Samuel’s death as “very painful and very regrettable” due to a blasphemy allegation.
Osinbajo made the remarks immediately after arriving from Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Friday.
The student was allegedly assaulted and killed after making remarks that were deemed insulting to Prophet Mohammed.
On Thursday afternoon, a video of the student being stoned and beaten circulated on social media, and the incident was alleged to have occurred earlier that day.
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Debora was a second-year student at Sokoto’s Shehu Shagari College of Education when she died.
President Muhammadu Buhari and the Sultan of Sokoto have both denounced the incident, according to the vice president.
“First and foremost, let me mention that the president has responded to this in a statement published earlier today criticising the action,” he said.
“It’s a profoundly troubling event – such a terrible assassination of the young lady by a crowd who took the law into their own hands; I think it’s very unfortunate.”
“The Sokoto state government, as well as the Sultan of Sokoto, responded quickly and effectively.
“I believe their immediate response to the situation illustrates the fury of millions of Nigerians, as well as everyone’s desire to see the criminals captured and prosecuted as soon as possible.”
Extrajudicial killing, according to Osinbajo, has no validity because there are legal procedures to rectify any wrongdoing.
He expressed his condolences to the deceased’s family and prayed to God to console her loved ones.
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“There’s really no excuse for anyone to take the law into their own hands no matter the provocation,” he added. “There are fixed systems for ensuring that we are able to correct whatever wrongs are done against us.”
“We must extend our heartfelt condolences to Deborah Samuel’s family.
“I can’t image how her parents, siblings, and other family members feel, not just about her death, but also about the nature of it.”
“I believe it is really unfortunate, and we offer our heartfelt condolences to them; we pray that the Almighty would comfort them at this time.”
