By Ayodele Mohammed Gbadamosi
Nigeria remains one of the most religious nations in the world, yet it is also one of the most divided along religious and ethnic lines.
The recurring clashes between Christians and Muslims, especially in Northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt, continue to raise serious concerns about the relationship between religion, law, justice, and national unity.
The tragic killing of Late Miss Deborah Samuel in Sokoto and the repeated killings in Plateau State present painful reminders of how religion, when mixed with extremism, weak institutions, and selective justice, can become a dangerous weapon against peace.
Deborah Samuel Yakubu, a second-year student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, was brutally lynched on May 12, 2022, after allegations of blasphemy against Islam surfaced in a class WhatsApp group.
Reports indicate that Deborah, a Christian student, had objected to the constant posting of religious messages in an academic group meant for studies. Her comments were interpreted by some students as blasphemous against Prophet Muhammad.
A violent mob of fellow students attacked her, stoned her, and eventually set her body ablaze within the school premises. Security personnel reportedly failed to protect her from the mob.
The killing sparked national outrage, while both Christian and Muslim leaders condemned the act and called for justice. Even the Sultan of Sokoto and Bishop Matthew Kukah described the act as criminal and unrelated to true religion.
The Deborah Samuel case exposed the tension between constitutional democracy and the application of Sharia law in some Northern states of Nigeria.
Nigeria operates a secular constitution that guarantees freedom of religion and the right to life under Sections 38 and 33 of the 1999 Constitution.
However, twelve Northern states also operate Sharia legal systems, where blasphemy against Islam is treated as a serious offence. While the law itself did not sentence Deborah to death, the social atmosphere created around blasphemy accusations often encourages mob justice and religious vigilantism.
This dangerous trend allows ordinary citizens to assume the role of judge, jury, and executioner, thereby undermining the rule of law.
Similarly, Plateau State has remained a hotspot for violent killings, often described as ethnic clashes, farmer-herder conflicts, or religious violence.
However, beneath these labels lies a deeper struggle involving land ownership, political control, identity, and religious dominance. Entire communities have been attacked, churches destroyed, mosques retaliated against, and innocent women and children displaced or killed.
In 2022 alone, over 150 people were reportedly killed in coordinated attacks across parts of Plateau State. While many analysts describe these as security failures linked to banditry and herder-farmer conflicts, many affected communities interpret them through the lens of religious persecution because victims are often selected along ethnic and faith lines.
The common thread between Deborah’s killing and the Plateau massacres is the collapse of justice. When perpetrators of violence believe they can escape consequences, violence multiplies. In Deborah’s case, public concern grew after reports that suspects were charged with lesser offences rather than murder, and legal proceedings later became controversial. This created a perception that justice was weak where religion was involved. In Plateau, survivors often complain that attacks are followed by silence, delayed arrests, and political speeches without meaningful prosecution. Justice delayed in such cases becomes justice denied.
Religion itself is not the enemy. Christianity and Islam both preach peace, justice, and human dignity. The problem arises when religion is manipulated by extremists, protected by political interests, and weaponized by ignorance. True faith does not justify murder. No religion should permit the killing of another human being over disagreement, accusation, or identity.
Deborah Samuel’s death was not an act of faith; it was an act of lawlessness. The Plateau killings are not divine assignments; they are failures of leadership and humanity.
Nigeria must urgently strengthen the supremacy of constitutional law above emotional religious sentiments. Sharia, when practiced, must not override fundamental human rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Security agencies must respond swiftly and impartially to religious violence, regardless of who is involved. Religious leaders must continue speaking boldly against extremism, and educational institutions must teach tolerance rather than division.
The blood of Deborah Samuel still speaks. The graves in Plateau still cry for justice. Until Nigeria learns that no religion should stand above human life, peace will remain fragile. A nation cannot claim to worship God while tolerating the destruction of His creation.
Justice, not silence, is the true test of religion.