Dozens Injured, 3 Feared Dead in Nigerian Religious Crisis

By: Victor Ulasi, Nigeria

Three confirmed dead and at least twelve people injured in a religious conflict between the Christians and Muslims on Easter Monday in Nasarawa Gwon local government area of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.

A so-to-say peaceful demonstration was held by the Christians to celebrate the Easter festival; however, the so-called peaceful demonstration turned out to be a bloody one when the Christians were attacked by a group of Muslims who thought the Christians have launched a mass attack on them.

The Christian who were holding a rally made it known to Muslims that it was an Easter celebration period, a celebration in which the Muslims have no right to disrupt. They further stated that the Muslims assumed the Christians are up to something for patrolling the Christian region in the name of Easter; the Muslims decided to strike first before the Christians attack.

The Christian group further stated that the people were killed by the Military and not by the Muslims, the military killed because the military men were Muslims and they decided to kill the Christians at will.

However, the police command of Jos reported only one Christian was killed who was identified as Mr. Osita Ikechukwu, the police stated that the situation is now under control and the people should go about doing their business as the police promised to ensure maximum security and investigation has commenced to discover the real truth about the murder.

On the other hand, the representative of the Special Task Force, Brigadier General Donald Oji said three people have been confirmed dead while some were injured, he made it known that the injured ones have been treated at the hospital, as the casualties have also been confirmed.

“What could have passed as a peaceful inter-denominational Easter prayer at Rwang Pam Stadium was hijacked by hoodlums who took to the streets thereby causing serious breach of peace. The prayer was duly signed and approved by the STF on the condition that there would be no procession and that it would be confined to the stadium, this condition was duly attested to by the organisers of the programme” Oji added.

While speaking further, Brigadier General Donald Oji said the accusation, rumor that the Christians were killed by the Military is not correct, and the public should disregard the rumors as the special military force were only doing their job and this is not how the public should pay back for the sacrifice.

“The Military serves Nigeria and not Christians or Muslims, we only did our job in restoring peace and other, at any level law and order must be restored and that’s all what we did.”

The State Police Command of Plateau state said investigations have commenced and anyone who is found guilty would face the law and called on the people to be patriotic citizens and never take the law into their hands.

Posted by worldnews on April 7, 2010. Filed under Africa Regional News,Crime and Punishment - Africa,International Criminal Justice,International News,terrorism,Terrorism - Africa,Western Africa,WorldNewsVine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.