Buhari To Unknown Gunmen: Expect Toughest Possible Response

President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a warning message to perpetrators of insecurity in the Southeast states often referred to as Unknown Gunmen to expect toughest possible response from the Nigeria security operatives.

President Muhammadu Buhari gave the warning on Wednesday via his personal verified twitter account.

President Muhammadu Buhari described the killings in the Southeast states as wild, barbarous and wanton destruction of lives of innocent people.

“I strongly condemn the wild, barbarous and wanton killings of innocent people in the South-East, as well as in other parts of Nigeria.

“The perpetrators of these deeply distressing attacks should expect the toughest possible response from the security forces”, President Muhammadu Buhari said.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier through his personal verified Facebook account condemned the killing of female student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Deborah Yakubu who was stoned and burnt to death by mob of students over alleged blasphemous statement against Prophet Mohammed SAW.

According President Muhammadu, no one has the right to take law into his or her own.

President Muhammadu Buhari said thus:

I strongly condemn the resort to self-help by the mob in Sokoto, resulting in violence, destruction and in the very tragic killing of Deborah Samuel, following an allegation that she had blasphemed Muhammad (SAW), the Prophet of Islam.

The news of the killing of the young lady by fellow students is a matter of great concern, and there must be an impartial and extensive probe into all that happened before and during the incident.

Indeed, Muslims all over the world demand respect for the Holy Prophets, including Isah (Alaihissalaam, Jesus Christ) and Muhammad (SAW), but where transgressions occur, as alleged to be the case in this instance, the law does not allow anyone to take matters into their own hands.

Also, religious leaders preach that it is not for the believer to judge the actions of another person. The constituted authority must be allowed to deal with such matters when they arise.

No person has the right to take the law in his or her own hands in this country. Violence has never and will never solve any problem.

I commend the immediate response to the incident by the Sokoto State Government, and urge religious and community leaders to call the attention of citizens to the need to exercise the right to freedom of speech responsibly.

At this time we must emphasize the news for tempered comments by the media, and calm among the general population, while investigation is ongoing to find out the remote and immediate causes of the incident.

The Ministries of Information and Culture, Police Affairs, and Communications and Digital Economy have been directed to work with GSM providers and Tech companies to help contain the spread of false and inflammatory information through social media.

Once again, my deepest condolences to the family of the deceased student, Deborah Samuel.