What could have snowballed into a religious crisis in Kazaure early this week was successfully brought under control by Emir of Kazaure Alhaji Najeeb Hussaini Adam and the Kazaure police command.

Weekly Trust investigation in Kazaure revealed that an earlier religious argument between two student of Government Girls College (EGC), Kazaure which took place a month ago was used by some hooligans to start what looks like a religious riot to achieve their goal.

The assistant police commissioner in charge of zone one Mr Kieren Dudari, told Weekly Trust that some followers of Shi'ite sect members who sneaked into Kazaure instigated the local youth to a wild protest that left a young boy injured. No life was lost in the entire incident, he said adding that the Shi'ites distributed pamphlets in the town to achieve their aim.

Weekly Trust reporter who visited the town soon after the disturbances gathered that two female students of GGC belonging to opposite faith, Kazure had an argument over the authencity of Prophet of Islam and Christianity. The argument took place about a month ago and both students were cautioned by the school authority, Mallam Lawal a teacher in the school confirmed to our reporter.

"But surprisingly just yesterday (Tuesday) we saw hundreds of youth with dangerous weapons trying to break through the gate, and asking that the principal and another girl be produced to them for justice. They said the girl insulted Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and that the principal covered up for the girl," Mallam Lawal narrated further.

He stated that the Emir of Kazaure himself has had to intervene to save the situation from degenerating.

Confirming the incident, the Emir of Kazaure Alhaji Najeeb Hussaini Adamu said he was alerted of the disturbance at about noon and he immediately, stepped in, to control the situation. "I asked the police to stay afar because their earlier effort proved disastrous despite their good intention," the Emir stated.

Alhaji Najeeb said he would not rule out external forces behind the disturbances but stated that most of the students of the school spent the night in his palace before they were dispered to their various destinations. He said some of the policemen who took refugee in the school were also escorted to safety. He however confirmed that there were no deaths but that of a boy of 12 years who was hit by a stray bullet from one of the policemen that shot to scare the attacking mob away.

At Kanti, where most of destruction took place, Weekly Trust was told how the rioters invaded the area, looting and setting ablaze some shops suspected to be owned by non-indigenes. In the process, many shops belonging to indigenes of Kazaure were equally burnt or looted.

A youth corper, whose hostel was burnt, said she lost everything in the inferno including her money, wrist watches and clothing. She said that though they were not wounded, but majority of other corpers were molested by the mob. She called on the authorities to come to their aid as they have been rendered homeless and penniless.

The Sarkin Yora of Kazaure, who was seen consoling the corpers, said the Kazaure Emirate council is making effort to resettle the corpers affected by the disturbances. He regretted the behaviour of some youths in Kazaure, describing the incident as the handiwork of miscreants in the society. He called on youth in Kazaure to refrain from destructive actions that are capable of breaking the peaceful co-existence and harmony in the emirate.

The Jigawa State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, the AIG in-charge of zone one and the Jigawa State police commissioner were all in Kazaure to assess the situation, The school, Government Girl's College Kazaure, has been temporarily closed down and the students sent home for sallah break. Only two abandoned vehicles of the school had their glasses shattered by the angry mob in the school when Weekly Trust visited said the school.

The security guard at the school said the angry mob were contained within the gates of the school by the emir before they could actually cause any havoc. He confirmed that no student of the school was molested nor attacked by the mob though most of them were shaken by the incident.

Narrating his experience, the security guard, Mallam Muhammadu said, "when we heard the chanting at Allahu-Akbar outside, we though it was some youth doing tashe, but when I looked outside I saw angry faces with clubs and sticks pushing towards the gate." He stated that he was not aware of any blasphemous remarks on the Prophet of Islam among the students, so he was surprised bythe demand of the mob.

"If such blasphemy took place in here, I expected the riot to start here not from outside" he said, adding that he believed that the disturbance was instigated from outside the school to achieve what he also called selfish agenda.

Efforts to speak to owners of the destroyed shops and churches proved abortive as they were said to have left for Kano when Weekly Trust called. But a member of the Non-indigene association in Kazaure, Mr Chike said they have been living in peace with the indigenes of the area until this unfortunate incident." We are like brothers here, we work together, eat together and do business together. I think the government should look for job for these jobless boys, to keep them busy and keep them away from destructive tendencies like this," he advised.

	Copyright © 2003 Weekly Trust. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).