26/05/2026
On March 21, 2007, a tragic incident occurred in Gandu, Gombe State, in North-East Nigeria, where 30-year-old teacher Christianah Oluwatoyin Oluwasesin lost her life after being attacked by a mob of Muslim students who accused her of insulting the Qurâan.
Christianah, who was a mother of two, had been assigned to supervise an Islamic Religious Knowledge examination at a secondary school. During the exam, she reportedly stopped a student from entering the hall with books and threw the materials outside. Some students later alleged that one of the books was a copy of the Qurâan.
The accusation immediately sparked outrage among the students, who began shouting âAllahu Akbarâ and pursued her to the principalâs office where she had sought safety.
According to reports, the mob forcefully dragged her out, assaulted her brutally, and killed her in a horrifying manner before setting her car ablaze with her body inside. The attackers also turned on the school principal â despite him being a Muslim â because he attempted to protect her. Several parts of the school, including classroom blocks, the library, the clinic, and administrative offices, were also destroyed during the violence.
Amid the chaos, a compassionate woman reportedly rescued Christianahâs 10-month-old son, Emmanuel, who might also have been harmed by the mob.
The attackers were said to be students between the ages of 12 and 14, allegedly aided by members of a local gang known as Yan Kalare.
Painfully, the day she was murdered was supposed to be her final day at the school before relocating to Abeokuta to reunite with her husband.
Following the incident, then-Governor Mohammed Danjuma Goje ordered the closure of all secondary schools in Gombe State and deployed security personnel to sensitive areas, especially churches.
Three suspects were later arrested and charged before the Federal High Court in Gombe. However, reports indicated that judgment in the case had still not been delivered for many years afterward.