Metro
Christians Furious Over Church Demolition, Members’ Killing In Borno
Published
3 years agoon
By
EditorThe demolition of EYN Church and the killing of two worshippers has created tension in Borno.
The Christian community is infuriated, with many adding religious and ethnic colourations.
The branch of the EYN (Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa in Nigeria) is located at the Maduganari area of Maiduguri, the Borno capital.
Trouble started when the church members attempted to stop the Borno Geographic Information System (BOGIS) from pulling the building down.
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The BOGIS team, led by the head, Engr. Adam Bababe, insisted that the church defaulted land administration and urban development laws.
As nerves charged, security operatives attached to the agency opened fire to push pack the protesters.
A source told DAILY POST that though some shots were fired into the air, “at least one of the officers reportedly got reckless and aimed at the crowd”.
Two persons were killed and five others in injured. Some are in a critical condition.
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The worshippers stressed that there was no warning prior to the action.
“We woke up this morning and saw Engr. Bababe and his men coming to destroy our church. Some members approached them”, a resident Audu said.
“Security operatives attached to the agency open fire and killed two people whose corpses are currently at the State Specialists Hospital.”
Jacob Ayuba, another resident and EYN member, stated: “We have never seen the government of Borno going to demolish a mosque no matter where the mosque was sited unless they want to build bigger one.
“Our church documents are intact. Churches will never buy land by cutting corners but because they did not want a church on that area they have come to demolish it.”
Another described what happened as a “witch hunt”.
“There are mosques were they should go. This government did not go there to demolish but are demolishing churches which have papers.
“This is wickedness. Our people are currently mobilising to march to the government house to protect the killing and demolition of our church by Bababe and his team.”
Bayo Oladeji, media adviser to Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President, Samson Ayokunle said a press statement will be issued.
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“I just heard. It is very unfortunate. We will speak with EYN Church members and other witnesses before we put out our official position”, he told DAILY POST Thursday evening.
The EYN Church and Christians in Borno are asking Zulum to ensure that BOGIS officials and culpable security officers are arrested and prosecuted for the deaths.
Borno Governor, Babagana Zulum, has consequently ordered the Police Command to investigate the demolition and shooting.
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The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has deployed its operatives to Banex – an electronics and telecommunications gadgets market, in Abuja, after a fight broke out between soldiers and some traders on Saturday.
Some civilians were seen in a viral video overpowering some soldiers in a fight at the popular market, while some scampered for safety over the fear of reprisals.
The Defence Headquarters, and the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Onyema Nwachukwu could not be reached for comments as of press time.
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A source present at the scene of the pandemonium said the fight occurred over the sale of a mobile phone.
“There’s a problem at Banex now. Some soldiers came to complain about a phone, and during an argument with the traders, a fight ensued,” the witness said.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Benett Igweh has deployed officers of the FCT Intelligence Response Team to the scene of the incident.
Metro
Okuama/Okoloba Impasse: Women Protest In Black Attire, Raise Issues [PHOTOS]
Published
9 hours agoon
May 18, 2024By
EditorProtesters who are majorly women from Okoloba community, Delta State, on Saturday, May 18, 2024, took to the street to protest what they called the return of armed youths of Okuama in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state.
INFO DAILY reports that Okoloba community in Bomadi Local Government Area and Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area, all in Delta State have been at loggerhead over land dispute and others.
The protesting Okoloba women in black attire staged the peaceful protest along the coastal fringe of Koloba community, chanting against violence and bloodbath.
The placard carrying women, led by the chairlady of Okoloba Community, Mrs Timipakebi Goodwin, and secretary, Mrs Mary Koibi, alleged that the armed youths of Okuama were threatening the peace of the riverine area.
READ ALSO: Delta Bloodbath: Relief As Army Withdraws Soldiers From Okuama Community
Some inscriptions on the placards read: ‘We say no to violence’; ‘enough of the killings on our land;’ ‘armed Okuama youths returning in a commando style;’ ‘we say no to the return of armed youths of Okuama;’ ‘resettle Okuama people among their Ewu brothers in Ughelli South LGA;’ ‘we mourn the killing of the 17 soldiers,’ among others.’
Reading a letter to newsmen, a copy of each she said was submitted to the police, DSS, NSCDC, JTF as well as the acting chairman of Bomadi Local local Government Council, Mrs Goodwin noted that the latest killing by the youths of Okuama showed that they could kill human beings at the slightest provocation.
The letter which contained an S.O.S. to the Federal Government, further reads: “First, we the women of Okoloba Community sympathize with the killing of 17 soldiers and officers of the Nigerian army on peace and rescue mission to Okuama, following the kidnap of our son. We sincerely mourn their untimely death and pray for the repose of their souls. We also pray for their families.
“However, less than 24 hours after the exit of the troops from Okuama, a fresh crisis erupted with another neighbouring community, culminating in the killing of one person while three other persons were seriously injured. The person who was killed and those sustaining machete wounds were alleged to have gone there to loot.
READ ALSO: One Killed, 3 Wounded As Communal Crisis Rocks Okuama After Withdrawal Of Soldiers
“The latest killing showed that the people of Okuama can kill a human at the slightest provocation; the sanctity of human life means nothing to them. It also shows that neighbouring Ijaw communities like Okoloba are not safe.
“So, resetting the people of Okuama in their present location, which is in-between communities in Bomadi Local Government Area, is an attempt to encourage further communal clashes and bloodbaths.
“Just last week, youths of Okuama Community came out of the Mein-toruabubor creek, which leads to Ewu, on three speedboats and all of them on camouflage. They shot sporadically in the air before proceeding to OKuama. They moved to and fro the creek three times, and at every time they shot their guns in the air at the entrance of the creek.
“We are calling on the federal government to come to our aid, and the panacea to these incessant clashes and killings is for the government to relocate Okuama to Ewu clan in Ughelli South Local Government Area, where they truly and rightly belong.
“Resettling them among their own people in Ewu clan of Urhobo land will foster mutual trust among themselves as they are of the same ancestry and speak the same dialect”.
Metro
JUST IN: Truck Rams Into BRT On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
Published
13 hours agoon
May 18, 2024By
EditorA truck has rammed into a Lagos State BRT bus at Ibafo bus-stop along the Lagos Ibadan Expressway.
The PUNCH correspondent who went to the scene gathered that the accident occurred around some minutes to 6am on Saturday.
Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps and Police on response call at the accident scene insisted that only their Public Relations Officers were authorised to speak.
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However, unconfirmed reports from onlookers noted that several people on the BRT bus were injured.
Onlookers accounts noted that the BRT was parked loading its passengers at the bus stop before the truck loaded with cows heading to Lagos rammed into it, taking it off the road to destroy shops and kiosks by the roadside.
The cow truck had been towed a little away from the scene so as not to hinder traffic.
Details later
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