After he deleted a post condemning the murder of Deborah Samuel, a 200-level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto State, who was burnt alive on Thursday, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has explained his action.
Deborah was beaten to a pulp and burnt alive by male Muslim students who accused her of insulting Prophet Muhammed when she insisted on a WhatsApp platform that posting religious content was forbidden.
Following the shutdown of the institution and the outcries by many Nigerians, especially the Christain community, Atiku had declared that those behind the killing must be brought to book.
He wrote, “There cannot be a justification for such gruesome murder. Deborah Yakubu was murdered, and all those behind her death must be brought to justice. My condolences to her family and friends.”
But post further elicited responses from some Muslims on social media who stormed the comment sections, particularly on Facebook, with a threat that would withdraw their support for his 2023 presidential ambition.
Threatened, Atiku quickly took down the posts.
Writing on his Facebook page on Friday, Atiku said he did not give approval for the post.
He said, ”This evening I received information that a post was made that doesn’t agree with my orders. I use this to announce that any post without AA is not from me. May God protect – AA.”
The former Vice-President did not, however, explain how the person who posted had access to his account as it’s assumed that any post on the handle should be coming from him whether he posted it by himself or someone else did.
The 2023 presidential aspirant also failed to state his position on the correction post, making it difficult for his followers to know where he stands on the matter.
But many commenters have concluded that by denying his media handlers, Atiiku may have supported the killing of the female student.