‘We take it as act of God’ — Deborah Emmanuel’s parents speak on her murder

Emmanuel Garba, father of Deborah, says his family has taken her death as an act of God.

Deborah, who was killed over alleged blasphemy in Sokoto, was laid to rest on Saturday in her hometown in Tunga Magajiya, Rijau LGA of Niger state.

In an interview with Daily Post, Garba said his family is saddened by Deborah’s killing, but added that nothing can be done about the situation.

Garba also narrated how he paid N120,000 to convey his daughter’s corpse from Sokoto to Niger after convincing the Sokoto state government to allow him to bury his child.

“We can’t say or do anything, except to take it easy as an act of God. We have left all to God, we have decided to take it like that,” Garba said.

“I personally went and brought back the body of my daughter to enable me to bury my own child. This is because keeping her in the morgue will not return her back.

“When I got there, I met government officials and made them understand the need to allow me take her back home and they agreed with me. When we got to the morgue, those in charge asked me to sign the necessary documents and I did. They released the corpse to me.

“I personally, paid the sum of N120,000 to the driver out of many that refused to convey her back home and it is because of the condition of the remains. Most drivers we approached all refused except one.

“The government wanted me to leave the remains, when they called me, I said no, they should allow me to please, bury my daughter.”

Alheri Emmanuel, the mother of the deceased, said Deborah was the second out of seven children.

“I have nothing to say, I am grateful to God and for your efforts. I have given God my heart and may God strengthen me. We have nothing to say,” Alheri said.

“Because of what happened to me, I will no longer send my children to schools where so much money is involved. Because of her education, the education of some of her siblings suffered as it is so difficult to care for them all at the same time. And, now things are difficult for us.”