Presidential poll riots: 59 killed, 84 churches burnt in Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna

Posted by admin Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Latest Politics, State News Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

The death toll in the mayhem, which trailed the April 16 presidential poll in Bauchi, Gombe and Kaduna states has been put at 59. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said yesterday that 32 Christians were killed in Bauchi State.

The management of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi also reported one of its students was killed by political thugs. In the same vein, 17 people lost their lives in Gombe State. It was also gathered that nine people were killed in Kaduna in the post-election violencewhile 30 sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries.

A senior medical personnel with Salamatu Hospital, Tudun Wada, where the victims were treated, Habiba Abdullahi, who spoke on behalf of the medical director confirmed the casualty figures. Chairman of CAN in the Bauchi State, Revd Musa Mwin Tula gave the figures at a press conference held at the NUJ Secretariat in Bauchi yesterday disclosing that more than 84 churches were burnt or destroyed.
Tula said houses and property worth millions of naira belonging to Christians in the state were targeted, attacked, set ablaze during and after the presidential poll.

He gave the breakdown as thus: “Bauchi Metropolis and environs: 11 Christians were killed, several others wounded, four churches and many houses burnt while property worth millions of naira was destroyed. Alkaleri LGA: Nine Churches and several houses were burnt/destroyed and many Christians were badly wounded.
“Kirfi LGA: Two Churches were burnt in Bara village and several properties destroyed. In Toro LGA, two Churches were burnt while five were burnt in Magamau Gumau and one in Tilde Fulani. Darazo LGA: Two Christians were killed and nine Churches burnt/destroyed.

“Misau LGA: 13 Churches in and around Misau were burnt. Katagum LGA: Several Christians were killed, 18 churches and residential houses, vehicles and properties were burnt/destroyed. Jama’are LGA: 10 Churches and several properties were burnt or destroyed. Itas-Gadau LGA: Three Christians were killed (two corps members and one other), many wounded and property destroyed.

“Giade LGA: 16 Christians were brutally killed, including a Christian police woman and another whose hands were mutilated. Also, four Churches and many properties belonging to Christians were burnt or destroyed in the area. Churches were also burnt in Ningi, Gamawa and Dambam LGAs.” According to the CAN chairman, “we are really shocked and short of words at the level of violence and mayhem that followed, most of which was unleashed and targeted at our unsuspecting members and their property.

“All these killings and destruction are barbaric, evil, satanic and unheard of in the 21st Century. We have had enough of these persecution and destructions of lives and property in Bauchi State.” CAN then asked: “Are all these happenings part of the Islamic Jihad on Christians? Why are all these calculated ad targeted at Christians? This continues to beat our imagination. “What is the connection between political election result and the killing of Christians and burning of our Churches? For the Christian North, we have our choice already. We have made up our minds as we are not slaves under the existing Nigerian Constitution and not even all the forces from hell can reduce us into slaves talk less of some foot soldiers under the guise of a political party.”

Bauchi CAN added that being like Jesus did not mean Christians were cowards but that it was the killers, armed bandits and robbers that were cowards, warning that, “let it be known that no longer would the Christians watch aloof while their wives, children and what they legitimately owned get killed and plundered anymore. Enough of this nonsense. We shall no longer succumb to intimidations or threats. No, not any more. We offer peace for peace and the other side of the coin we leave to God.”

It then condemned in totality what it described as a despicable act and called on the Federal and Bauchi State Governments as well as security agencies to wake up to their responsibilities for the protection of lives and property of the citizenry declaring that, “if there is no adequate security in place we are afraid Christians may not be able to participate in the gubernatorial election. This is because we can no longer afford to lose the lives and properties of our people.”

CAN then demanded for the immediate rebuilding of all Churches burnt and compensations for the families that lost their loved ones while urging government to take immediate measures to put a stop to the killings and destruction of properties.

In a related development, it has been confirmed that 17 people lost their lives during the pro-Muhammadu Buhari widespread violence in Gombe State within the last three days. The mayhem started Saturday night shortly before the collation of the last presidential election held in the state just as 100 suspects have been arrested and are currently in police custody for questioning.

While speaking to newsmen in Gombe after an on-the-spot-assessment tour of the affected areas, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations at the Force Headquarters, Audu Abubakar, described the incident as unfortunate and uncalled for. He called on politicians to always accept election results in good faith as there must be a winner and a looser rather than participating in violent politics, urging them to find a common ground to build the nation.

On death toll, he said, “I am not in the position to say the exact number as at this time because my officers are not yet finished with the investigations, so as soon as they finish we would give you the details.” Daily Sun gathered that the three days violence has claimed lives of not fewer than 17 people while over 100 casualties were brought in for medical attention at the Federal Medical Centre as well as the Specialist Hospital.

Speaking to newsmen, the Acting Head of Clinical Services and Training of the Federal Medical Centre, Gombe, Dr. Ali Shaliza said, 71 patients of post-political violence were brought in to the hospital within the last three days. He added that 11 persons were also brought in dead while two others died in the hospital, saying many out of the patients were admitted while others were treated and discharged.

Also, the Chief Medical Director of Specialist Hospital, Dr. James Mahdi, told Daily Sun that 43 cases were brought in to the hospital while seven people that were critically injured were referred to Federal Medical Centre and 19 were treated and discharged and that nine were on admission out of which two were female corps members, while five death cases were recorded.

In addition, a student of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi was among the people killed in electoral violence. This was contained in a press statement signed by the Public Relation Officer of the polytechnic, Mallam Rabiu Mohammed Wada and made available to newsmen yesterday.

The victim, Aliyu S. Bello, until his death, was a student of the Department of Food Science and Technology. According to the statement, Bello died from injuries sustained during the attack on him by political thugs while serving as a polling clerk at Unguwan Dumi polling station in Bauchi metropolis in the April 16 presidential election.

-Sunwp_posts