Nigeria: Justice Demanded for Murdered Schoolteacher
Jun 12 2007
Postings >> Nigeria

Christians are demanding justice for a murdered schoolteacher in Gombe state after police released 16 suspects without charge.

Christianah Oluwatoyin Oluwasesin was killed by her own students and extremists after she was falsely accused of desecrating the Koran (as 7x7 reported on April 17).

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports that Mrs Oluwasesin, who had been invigilating an exam at the Gandu Government Day Secondary School, was attacked after confiscating the book of a Muslim student whom she had caught cheating. The student reportedly lied to the class, saying that her teacher had torn a copy of the Koran. Mrs Oluwasesin was then stoned, stripped, beaten and stabbed to death.

Despite a detailed report of the incident by the Gombe chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Gombe state's attorney general has made a public statement claiming that 16 suspects detained for questioning had 'no case to answer'.

CAN Gombe is now calling for the prosecution of three people who it alleges were involved in the murder -- and for an investigation into why police at the scene did not intervene. CSW also reports that the attack may have been pre-planned: Mrs Oluwasesin had been 'targeted by thugs' a fortnight earlier and had had to be rescued by passers-by.

• Continue to pray for the family of Mrs Oluwasesin who are fighting for justice as well as wrestling with their grief.
• Pray that Nigeria's new government would take firm action to ensure this type of violence does not go unpunished.