CHICAGO: Rockford Bishop David J. Malloy, chairman of the American Bishops' Conference on Justice and Peace, has expressed his grief and shock over the shooting death of Deborah Yakuba Samuel, a university student, by religious fundamentalists in Nigeria, through a letter, which sent to Lucius Ugorji, President of the Nigerian Catholic Bishop's Conference.

In a letter to May 26, Bishop David J. Malloy said the student's murder was "shocking" and that it was a continuation of violence against the Catholic faith and churches.

The full text of the letter,

'It is with horror, shock and sadness that I have learned of the senseless killing of Ms. Deborah Yakuba Samuel, a university student at the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, Nigeria. I also understand that this death escalated into violence directed at two Catholic churches and other Church property. As Chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on International Justice and Peace, I write to express my solidarity with the Church in Nigeria and my sincerest condolences to the family of Ms. Yakuba Samuel. May her soul rest in eternal peace.

I also wish to extend my solidarity and sympathies to Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Bishop of Sokoto where the death and attacks on Church property occurred. Our Conference has worked with Bishop Kukah on a number of occasions and we are saddened by this wanton death and destruction.

It is our hope that those responsible for these acts are brought to justice in order to avoid such violence in the future.

Please be assured of our prayers at this unsettling time and do let us know if there is anything we can do to support you and the people of Nigeria.'

On May 12, Deborah, a student at the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, was beaten to death, stoned and set on fire by Anti-Christian students.

Deborah wrote on Facebook that her success in the exam was due to Jesus. Two fellow Anti-Christian students commented on Deborah's Facebook telling her to delete it. Deborah commented in response, 'The fire of the Holy Spirit is on me and nothing will happen to me.'

When the college reopened on May 11, Deborah was surrounded by boys from the same extremist community. She was then stoned to death and later set on fire.