Security operatives kill 2 over demolition of EYN Church in Maiduguri

Security operatives kill 2 over demolition of EYN Church in Maiduguri

Trouble stirs today in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital as security operatives attached to the Borno State Geographic Information System in charge of the assessment of land documents gunned down two residents of Maduganari ward and injured several others

The incident happened today (Wednesday) when the agency led by Engr. Adam Bababe went to the area to demolish a Church building.

The building, which belongs to Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN), was said to have been demolished for not being cited in a proper place but members said the church has been there long before the coming of the Zulum administration in Borno state.

According to them, demolishing their place of worship by the government of Borno State shows that the government is anti-Christian.

Residents told newsmen in Maiduguri that there was no warning or prior information about the move by the agency to demolish the Church building.

“issues of religion are very sensitive and needed caution. But these people only consider their own religion and not others. We woke up this morning and saw Engr. Bababe and his men coming to destroy our Church. Some members of the Church approached them and the security operatives attached to the agency opened fire on them, killing two people.

“Their corpses as we speak are currently at the state specialists hospital,” a resident who identified himself as Amos Audi told our correspondent in Maiduguri.

The situation turned violent as residents said the government is against Christians, adding that if it were a mosque, they would not have demolished it.

“We have never seen the government of Borno State going to demolish a mosque no matter where the mosque was cited unless they want to build a bigger one. Our Church has its papers and documents intact.

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“Churches will never buy a land by cutting corners but because they did not want a Church in that area they have come to demolish it,” Jacob Ayuba, another resident and member of the Church said.

” What the government resorted to doing is a witchhunt. There are mosques in places where they should not be but this government did not go there to demolish them but are demolishing churches that have papers. This is wickedness. Our people are currently mobilizing to March to the government house to protest the killing and demolition of our Church by Engr. Bababe and his team,” Another resident said

But the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has ordered the Police Command to investigate the demolition of a church and the death of two worshippers.

There was a violent confrontation between a Joint Security Task Force operating with the Borno Geographical Information System (BOGIS) and EYN Church members at Maduganari, in Maiduguri.

The Thursday incident sparked outrage within the Christian community in Borno.

“These daylight murders and demolition of a church wouldn’t have happened at a mosque”, an indigene of the state-based in Lagos said.

A disturbed Zulum, who now faces the task of proving that his administration is not bias toward the Christians, has condemned the shooting.

Five persons are currently hospitalized. The governor, in a statement by his spokesman, Isa Gusau, commiserated with families of those who died and the injured.

He already telephoned the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Chairman, Bishop Mohammed Naga to mourn with the Christian community and the EYN Church.

Zulum also invited the CAN leadership for a meeting scheduled for later today at the Government House.

He further directed the Deputy Governor, Umar Kadafur to visit the hospital where the wounded are receiving treatment, to empathize and take over the cost of their treatments