On a day when many young people were sharing cheerful memories online, a far more tragic event unfolded at the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto. A group of Muslim students took the life of their colleague, Deborah Yakubu, after accusing her of blasphemy against the Prophet.
If blasphemy is a crime, it is one that should be addressed through legal and official channels — not by mob action. But the students chose immediate violence over lawful process, turning an ordinary school day into a horrifying moment that shook the nation. This tragedy exposes deeper issues surrounding religious violence in Nigeria, as well as the social conditions that make it possible.
Who Committed the Act? A Closer Look at the Mob
A closer look at the perpetrators reveals a painful truth: many were children of everyday Nigerians — not elites. How many wealthy families send their children to a College of Education in Nigeria? Very few. This reality highlights a class dimension to the tragedy.
After the suspected killers of Deborah Yakubu were arrested, protests erupted across Sokoto. These protests were far from peaceful. Instead, angry groups stormed churches and homes with clubs, cutlasses, petrol, and matches, targeting Christians in retaliation.
Why should people be attacked because they do not practice the same religion?
Why should entire communities suffer because of the actions of a few?
How did we arrive at a place where young people willingly participate in such violence?
These questions point to long-standing tensions behind religious violence in Nigeria.
Religion as “the Opium of the People”
The behavior of the mob brings to mind Karl Marx’s famous description of religion as:
“the sigh of the oppressed creature… and the opium of the people.”
Instead of being a source of unity, hope, and comfort, religion is increasingly being used as a divisive tool. A force that should inspire compassion has, in many cases, become a weapon.
Religion should create a sense of brotherhood among followers and welcome others with peace. Instead, it is being misused in ways that deepen inequality, ignite hostility, and distract the masses from larger struggles affecting their lives.
Many citizens cling to dogma without questioning leaders who exploit religion for their own gain. Instead of demanding accountability or better living conditions, some people become rigid defenders of extremists who manipulate faith for destructive ends.
When Religion Replaces Humanity
One of the greatest tragedies is how religious identity now overshadows basic humanity. People who should stand together in solidarity now clash because of differing beliefs. Friends become silent enemies. Colleagues avoid sitting next to one another in meetings.
And all of this happens because some individuals believe their religion justifies violence — or that the actions of a misguided few represent an entire group.
In a century marked by technological progress and global communication, it is heartbreaking that Nigerians are still confronting this level of intolerance and brutality.
The Need for Knowledge, Understanding, and Critical Thinking
There is one powerful antidote to dogma and manipulation: knowledge.
Blind obedience leads to disastrous outcomes. Blind loyalty empowers dangerous leaders. Blind faith turns humans into tools for violence.
Instead of automatically obeying commands or ideologies, people must ask why.
Why should I act this way?
Who benefits from my actions?
What are the consequences?
Without this critical thinking, people can easily be deceived into harming others — or destroying their own communities.
A Painful Reflection on the State of Humanity
The death of Deborah Yakubu is more than a tragic incident. It is a mirror reflecting many painful realities:
- How young people can be manipulated
- How violence is justified in the name of religion
- How communities can be torn apart by intolerance
- How ignorance empowers dangerous ideologies
It is deeply sad that, in the 21st century, Nigerians are still grappling with issues that should have been resolved long ago. Religious violence in Nigeria continues to expose the cracks in our social fabric — cracks that threaten peace, unity, and basic human dignity.
This is, indeed, a painful shame. A shame on a society that must learn, heal, and change.
