CHRISTIAN Association of Nigeria (CAN) has advised President Olusegun Obasanjo to redeploy Borno State Commissioner of Police and the Director of State Security Services (SSS) for their alleged roles during last Saturday's civil disturbances.

The association also claimed that 50 persons lost their lives while 40 churches and several business premises were destroyed in the bloody crisis.

This came as Christians and Igbo traders in the state capital Maiduguri, locked up their business premises, yesterday, to protest attacks on them by some Muslim youths.

These happened as violent religious crisis yesterday, hit Bauchi State, over alleged desecration of the Holy Quaran by a female teacher at the Government Day Secondary School in the State.

The crisis forced the State government to impose a dusk to dawn curfew.

Daily Champion investigation in Maiduguri revealed that commercial banks shut their gates as angry traders chanting protest songs demonstrated in the city.

There was no official reaction from both the police and SSS at press time.

CAN however, said its members suffered heavy losses due to alleged lapses on the part of security agents.

Speaking at a press conference, CAN vice chairman, Rev. Joel Billy, faulted the police for granting permission for the "so-called peaceful protest" when actually no security measures were put in place to forestall the breakdown of law and order.

Rev Billy also faulted security agencies for not considering the volatile nature of such protests in the northern part of the country.

The Christian body, therefore, called on the Federal Government to recall the Commissioner of Police and Director of State Security Services (SSS) in the state since they have lost confidence in the ability of the outfits to do justice to Christians.

"We appreciate the effort played by the military following the inadequacy of the police and kindly request that the military should continue with the good work of protecting us", they said.

The issue of compensation to their members, they insist must be taken seriously because "there is no connection to a cartoon published in Denmark more than a month ago with Christians in Borno State".

CAN stressed that there was no "justification or lack of knowledge by government and security agents in Borno State to avert the wanton destruction of lives and property of Christians".

Meanwhile, Christians and Igbo traders in Maidugiri have shut their business premises to protest the attack on them.

Commercial banks also shut their gates to customers even though, no official statements have been issued from either banks or security agencies.

This developments are happening after Igbo youths numbering over 500 stormed residences brandishing dangerous weapons promising to deal ruthlessly with their tormentors.

The Igbo youths who are resident round the Federal lowcost/Pompomary area of the metropolis, vowed to avenge the damage done to their businesses and lives by the hoodlums who are using the cover of Islam to unleash terror on them.

It took the timely arrival of a truck load of soldiers to bring the situation under control especially where private schools located to the area had hectic time controlling the pupils who had just been dropped by their parents for the day's study.

Some of the angry youths who spike with Daily Champion said their investments have been destroyed.

The crisis in Bauchi came as religious leaders under the umbrella of Inter-Religious Committee, rose in condemnation of the violent protests that swept through Maidugiri, Katsina, Bauchi and Gombe recently.

In Bauchi State Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Zailani, told newsmen at the end of an emergency security meeting that government imposed the restriction on movement as from 6 pm to 7 am in the metropolis with effect from yesterfay.

Alai said soldiers had also been deployed in the city in addition to the police and other security operatives. He warned agaisnt violating the curfew, adding that the security agents had been ordered to arrest violting the curfew, adding that the security agents had been ordered to arrest violators.

"The soldiers and the polcie have been instructed to safeguard lives and property and protect places of worship," the commissioner said.

Alai dispelled the rumour that the crisis was caused by an alleged desecration of the Holy Quran by a female teacher at the Government Day Secondary School, situated within the military barracks in Bauchi.

"The truth of the matter is that a female student was busy reading the Quran while lesson was going on.

The female teacher, who was conducteing the class only seized the Quran from the student, a move which was misinterpreted by some students," Alai said.

He said not a single life was lost during the crisis, contrary

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