The Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, led by Bishop Matthew Kukah, has been devastated by hoodlums.
According to photographs and videos uploaded online, the diocese’s secretariat, St Bakhita, was set ablaze during demonstrations calling for the release of Deborah Samuel’s murder suspects.
The videos revealed that the church on Aliyu Jodi Road was the identical one that had been set ablaze by raging assailants.
It was unclear whether the church was set on fire because of Mr Kukah’s remarks condemning Ms Samuel’s heinous murder or if the criminals struck at random.
Mr Kukah said he was on his way out of Sokoto when reached. The bishop’s end of the conversation had a windy background, confirming he was on the move.
The police spokesman in Sokoto declined to comment on the damage of St Bakhita. Witnesses stated the attackers regrouped after the police vans left the neighborhood after firing tear gas to disperse protesters from storming into the church earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, Governor Aminu Tambuwal has declared a curfew in Sokoto to prevent additional outbreaks of violence following a crowd outrage over the murder suspects of Ms Samuel.
Ms Samuel, a Shehu Shagari College of Education 200-level home economics student, was killed around 9:00 a.m. on Thursday for allegedly criticizing Prophet Muhammad.
Her assassination has generated indignation across the country, with political and religious leaders calling for the immediate arrest and conviction of all suspects.
