There are calls for a day of peaceful protest for the murdered Nigerian student Deborah Samuel Yakubu.

Nigeria's Christians have called for a National Day of Protest and government intervention after the stoning to death and burning of Nigerian Christian student Deborah Samuel Yakubu.

Ms Yakubu was accused by other students of posting blasphemous statements about the Prophet Muhammad in a Whatsapp group.

A video of her burning body went viral on social media with one young man boasting of having killed her, while another in the background shouts 'Allahu Akbar (Allah is greater)'.

President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Samson Olasupo Ayokunle released a statement calling on all church leaders to organise peaceful protest on Sunday, May 22. 

Two suspects were arrested in connection with the murder of Ms Yakubu 

Ayokunle wants people to carry plaques during the protest with messages like "we demand justice 4 Deborah", "no more killing in God's name" and "enough is enough."

CEO of Release International Paul Robinson said: "Release International is horrified and appalled by this unjustified killing, 

"Our hearts go out to her parents.

"The cry of blasphemy, the murder, and the rioting reflect the growing climate of violence towards Christians, especially in the north of the country, where Nigeria has become a killing zone for Christians.

"We continue to call on the government of Nigeria to prevent this violence and on the international community to press Nigeria to act immediately."

The Sultan of Sokoto, the leader of Nigeria's Muslims, condemned the killing: 'The sultanate council condemned the incident in its totality and has urged security agencies to bring perpetrators of the unjustifiable incident to justice.'

In a statement Secretary-General Joseph Bade of CAN said: "The protest will take place on May 22 , 2022, at 3pm."

He hopes the protests will help prevent any future loss of lives.