There’s palpable tension in Bauchi over an alleged blasphemy by one Mrs Roda Jatau, who was said to have shared a video in a WhatsApp group in which a convert ‘insulted’ the Prophet of Islam. (Read More Here).
According to a source, Mrs Jatau works with the Bauchi State Primary Health Care and is originally from Gombe, but married in Warji local government area.
According to sources, the violent extremists then mobilised to attack an Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) church before Christian youths mobilised and repelled them.
“We were at home Friday evening when we heard shouts from Muslim youths in their hundreds wanting to attack the ECWA church but Christian youths and others resisted and repelled them but after they had already set the shops attached to the church on fire.
“In the process, one of the pastors of the ECWA Church was seriously wounded, as I am speaking to you, efforts are on to save his life as he lost much blood due to the injuries inflicted on him,” one the sources said.
Another source said that it was one of the youths who recently got converted from Christianity to Islam who allegedly raised the alarm of the alleged blasphemy by a Christian lady and led other Muslim youths in search of her.
One of the leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state confirmed the situation and said that the state Police Commissioner and the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Bala Muhammed on Christian Religious Affairs had been informed.
He called on the Christian community in the state not to allow the situation to degenerate even though they had to protect themselves from the attackers, while assuring that security operatives would do everything possible to safeguard lives and properties.
Confirming the incident, the State’s Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakili, in a statement forwarded to DAILY POST on Saturday, said the command had commenced investigation into the incident.
The PPRO stated that unspecified number of residents were injured during the incident, but he, however, said no life was lost.
The command’s spokesman said the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Mamman Sanda, had deployed “all Tactical Teams, Mobile Police Force and Rapid Response Squad (RRS) whose joint efforts brought the situation under control.
“The area is calm for now, while visibility Patrols are on going to keep the peace.
He said, “Some irate youths set six (6) houses and seven (7) shops ablaze, while some scores of persons were injured as a result of a blasphemous message posted on a social media by one Rhoda Jatau (female) 40yrs old, a staff of the Medical Department Warji Local Government.
“The Commissioner of Police appeals to the general public to be calm and go about their lawful business without any fear of intimidation as normalcy has been restored in the affected area.
“While assuring the general public that the Police are on top of the situation and will continue to update the Public as to the level of investigation from time to time, the Command would like to use this medium to reiterate the need for parents and guardians to maintain strict vigilance over the activities of their wards, particularly youths.
“The Commissioner of Police also urges religious leaders, community leaders and elders generally to always speak to the youths to desist from anything that could tamper with the security of their areas”.
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