This Day (Lagos)
July 3, 2001
Posted to the web July 3, 2001
Tokunbo Adedoja
Jos The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bauchi State chapter, has accused the state Governor, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu of taking sides with the muslims in the recent religious crisis that engulfed some parts of the state.
The Chairman of CAN in Tafawa Balewa Local Government, Mr. Markus Musa told newsmen yesterday that despite the fact that Mu'azu knew that so many Christians were "slaughtered at a road block at Zwall and Burgel villages," he has refused to send condolence message.
"He has refused, failed and neglected to condole the people of Bogoro LGA or visit the area to see things for himself as to the extent of damages done to lives and property. We strongly feel that a government that compromises the security of lives, properties and welfare of its citizens is not indeed a responsible government," Musa said.
In his breakdown of number of lives and property claimed by the crisis, the CAN chairman said that ten people were killed in Jigawa, Gargare and Ungyada villages while the principal of Government Secondary School Boi, Gonto Dangana and that of GSS Miya, Halan Maiduka were among those slaughtered at a road block mounted along Bauchi-Tafawa Balewa road in Burgel and Zwall villages.
He added that 120 houses including churches were vandalised in Jigawa village while twenty eight and ten houses were burnt in Gargare and Ungyada respectively.
While calling on President Olusegun Obasanjo to intervene by setting up a panel to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the religious crisis in the area, the CAN chairman accused the state government of setting up a Reconciliation and Resettlement Committee instead of first looking into the causes to avert a future occurence.
On the Reconciliation and Resettlement Committee set up by the governor, the CAN leader said Christians were also marginalised in the committee as the position of chairman and secretary are held by muslims.
Copyright © 2001 This Day. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
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