*Says Killers Faced Camera, Bragged, Held A Matchbox

GLOBAL human rights organisation, Amnesty International (AI), has criticised the Federal Government for its failure to hold to account, killers of Deborah Samuel, who was lynched by schoolmates for alleged blasphemy almost two years ago.

Amnesty International, in statement posted on its X handle on Monday, April 1, regretted that despite the fact that Deborah’s killers did not hide their faces in camera while committing the heinous crime, the government at the federal and state levels still find it difficult to bring them to justice since May 12, 2022.

   While decrying the latent behaviour of the governments on violent crimes, AI said the consistent failure of the Nigerian government to tackle violence in the name of religion has effectively sent the message that anyone could commit murder and get away with it.

The statement read in part: “#Deborah Samuel was lynched by her school mates over alleged #blasphemy on 12 May 2022 in #Sokoto. More than a year after, the Nigerian authorities have failed to hold her killers to account.

“In a flagrant show of utter disdain for the sanctity of life and impunity, a video footage of a raging fire and a man facing the camera, bragging that he killed and burnt Deborah Samuel- while also brandishing a matchbox- was widely shared on social media.

“Consistent failure of the #Nigerian government to tackle violence in the name of religion has effectively sent the message that anyone can commit outrageous abuses and get away with it. This is unacceptable.”