Blasphemy: ‘We Take It As Act Of God’ – Deborah Samuel’s Parents

Parents of the College of Education student, Deborah Samuel who was murdered for alleged blasphemy have reacted to the extrajudicial killing of their daughter.

Gatekeepers News reports that the deceased father, Emmanuel Garba says his family has taken Deborah’s death as an act of God.

Deborah, who was stoned and set ablaze for alleged blasphemy in Sokoto, Northern Nigeria was laid to rest on Saturday in her hometown in Tunga Magajiya, Rijau LGA of Niger state, North Central Nigeria.

In an interview with Daily Post, Garba said his family is saddened by Deborah’s killing, but noted that nothing can be done about the situation.

He further narrated how he paid N120,000 to convey his daughter’s corpse from Sokoto to Niger after convincing the Sokoto state government to allow him to bury his child.

Garba said, “We can’t say or do anything, except to take it easy as an act of God. We have left all to God, we have decided to take it like that.

“I personally went and brought back the body of my daughter to enable me to bury my own child. This is because keeping her in the morgue will not return her back.

“When I got there, I met government officials and made them understand the need to allow me take her back home and they agreed with me. When we got to the morgue, those in charge asked me to sign the necessary documents and I did. They released the corpse to me.

“I personally, paid the sum of N120,000 to the driver out of many that refused to convey her back home and it is because of the condition of the remains. Most drivers we approached all refused except one.

“The government wanted me to leave the remains, when they called me, I said no, they should allow me to please, bury my daughter.”

On the other hand, the deceased mother Alheri Emmanuel explained that Deborah was the second out of seven children.

Algeria said, “I have nothing to say, I am grateful to God and for your efforts. I have given God my heart and may God strengthen me. We have nothing to say.

“Because of what happened to me, I will no longer send my children to schools where so much money is involved. Because of her education, the education of some of her siblings suffered as it is so difficult to care for them all at the same time. And, now things are difficult for us.”