Nigeria: Clashes are politically motivated

  1. Posted on Tuesday 24 February 2009 - 10:40
    Murtala
    Image of Murtala
    Murtala Kamara Mohammed, AfricaNews reporter in Freetown, Sierra Leone
    The State Governor of Bauchi in Nigeria, Mallam Isa Yuguda, has revealed that last weekend clashes between Muslims and Christians which left 11 dead in his state was politically motivated. He said the clash was a political ploy to destroy the development record of his administration in that state.
    clashes
    He also gave strong warning that anyone who was behind last weekend attacks will face the full penalties of the law, according to the Nigerian Vanguard newspaper. Yuguda said that his administration is determined to protect lives and properties “we are here to protect lives, properties and manage crisis.”

    Red Cross sources said 38 people were seriously injured in the crisis and that they are now responding to treatment in Bauchi. According to media report a Lebanese engineer was taking out of his car and shot in a close range and his properties was carted away.

    Another victim who was seeking refuge at a military barracks narrated that "the hoodlums entered our house and took my brother outside where they stabbed him and threw him inside the well. As I’m speaking to you now, my brother is still inside the well, dead. My sister and I sister jumped over the fence and ran to the barracks for safety."

    The crisis started as a result of disagreement between the Church of Christ and a neighboring Friday Mosque over a parking space at the Federal Low Cost Housing area of Bauchi metropolis. It is still not clear the exact amount of mosques and churches that was burnt down in Saturday’s attacks.

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