Zulum condemns violent clash over demolition of church in Maiduguri

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has condemned violent clash over demolition of a church and ordered the police to investigate the incident.

At least one person killed while several others injured after a Demolition team of the Borno Geographic Information Service (BOGIS) opened fire at armless civilians during a demolition exercise at  Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa Nigeria (EYN), Church in Maduganari area in the capital of Maiduguri.

The incident PRNigeria gathered occurred when some angry youths confronted the team headed by Mr Adam Bukar-Bababe, the BOGIS Executive Secretary, after they started demolishing the church structure without notice.

The protest was triggered after a driver of an escalator started destroying the structure of the church including the properties inside which includes; Chairs, board, fridges, televisions, public address system and other properties.

It is alleged that a Civilian Joint Task Force Member in the demolition team opened fire at the crowd to dispersed them which resulted in the killing of young man identified as Ezekiel Bitrus, a 29 year-old while five others were severely injured as they attempted to fled for their safety.

The reckless shooting, however, provoked angry youths within the communities who went on rampage to convey their displeasure over the killing by attacking the team.

The BOGIS Executive Secretary, narrowly escaped being lynched by the angry youths after he was whisked away by security personnel, while other members of his team took to their hills after some youths gave them a chase from the spot of the incident.

The sources said that the shooter also escaped while other members of the Civilian Joint Task Force removed their uniforms and fled the scene for the fear of being lynched.

However, four vehicles belonging to a humanitarian organisation were vandalised by the youths.

It took intervention from the personnel’s from the Borno Police Command, Garison Commander Operation Hadin Kai, a team from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), to bring the situation under control.

Meanwhile, Borno Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has ordered the Borno police command to immediately investigate a violent collusion between the parties.

Governor Zulum condemned in strong terms, the firing of gun shots by a member of security task force as well as some persons who hurled stones at the task force during an encounter on Thursday. One person died and five persons are currently hospitalized.

Zulum’s spokesman Isa Gusau, said the Governor commiserates with families of the person who died and those injured.

The Governor also called the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN in Borno State, Bishop Mohammed Naga and spoke with him to commiserate with the Christian community and leadership and family of the EYN church in Borno.

Zulum also invited the CAN leadership for meeting l. He also directed the deputy governor, Umar Kadafur to visit the hospital where five injured persons are receiving treatment, to empathise with them and also take over the cost of their treatment. (PRNigeria)