Former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, has denied allegations that he celebrated the killing of Deborah Samuel, a student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, who was lynched by a mob in May 2022 over alleged blasphemy.
Ahmad, in a statement posted on his verified social media account on Thursday, described the accusations as “false and malicious,” stating that his tweet supporting capital punishment for blasphemy was made years before the incident.
“My tweet on blasphemy laws was posted on July 1, 2015, and has no connection with the unfortunate killing of Deborah Samuel,” Ahmad said.
Deborah was killed on May 13, 2022, after reportedly posting a voice note in her class WhatsApp group that some students considered offensive to Prophet Muhammad. Viral videos showed her being beaten and set ablaze by unidentified assailants.
The incident sparked national outrage, with civil society groups, religious leaders, and international observers calling for justice and stronger protections for freedom of expression.
Ahmad, who served as Special Assistant on New Media to former President Muhammadu Buhari, has faced repeated criticism over the resurfaced tweet. He insisted that he has never endorsed mob violence and condemned the killing.
“I have never celebrated such a heinous act. Linking my tweet to that tragedy is unfair and misleading,” he added.
The Sokoto State Government and security agencies have yet to announce any major convictions related to the killing, though investigations are said to be ongoing.
