Northern governors have described the killing of a Christian female student, Deborah Samuel, by Muslim fanatics at the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, for alleged blasphemy, as extrajudicial.

In a statement by the chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Plateau governor, Simon Lalong, the governors said they were worried by Muslim extremists resorting to self-help measures in addressing percieved infraction.

“The governors are concerned about the development which is clearly an extrajudicial measure of addressing perceived infraction.

“The northern governors appeal for calm following reports of the hijack of a peaceful protest which later turned violent and led to the imposition of a curfew in Sokoto metropolis,” Mr Lalong said in a statement by his spokesperson, Makut Macham, in Jos.

The governors noted that any attempt to adopt self-help in addressing grievances, whether religious or otherwise, could lead to further chaos.

Already, rampaging Muslim thugs have taken to the streets of Sokoto to burn properties perceived to belong to Christian organisations, while also demanding that security agencies set free some of the already arrested killers of Ms Samuel.

Northern governors, in their statement, commiserated with the family of the victim and appealed that security agencies be allowed to thoroughly investigate the matter.

They also commiserated with Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto over the incident, while commending the proactive measures he adopted to restore normalcy.

The governors assured him of their solidarity and prayers in dealing with the matter, noting that they would ensure the adoption of necessary measures to forestall recurrence in any part of the region and nation at large.

The forum also stressed the need for people from the northern part of the country and Nigerians to show love, tolerance and respect for one another irrespective of faith, ethnicity or other affiliations.

(NAN)