Riot in Bauchi over Quran
• 3 feared killed
From PAUL ORUDE, Bauchi
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
At least three people are feared dead while more than 15
others were seriously injured in Bauchi, when violence protest
erupted Monday over seizure of a copy of the Holy Qur’an
by a teacher from a student.
Daily Sun gathered that the whole thing started from Government
Day Secondary School, Bauchi, where a female teacher was said
to have seized the Holy Qur’ran from a female student
who was reading it while teaching was on in the class.
The mistress reportedly instructed the student to concentrate
in class.
The teacher was said to have meted out punishment to the student
which some aggrieved student thought was unfair. This was
about 9:00am
Though the teacher subsequently handed the scriptures back
to the student after the class, a protest started which later
spread to other parts of the city. The areas most affected
are Jahun, Nasarawa, Kobi and Railway.
The students, mostly male where seen shouting Allahu Akbar!
Allahu Akbar! along Yandoka Street, where they began their
protest, wielding dangerous weapons at about 12:15 pm.
The police quickly sent a detachment of mobile policemen as
people ran helter-skelter. Social Commercial activities were
seriously affected as vehicular movement temporarily ceased
while shops along major streets such as Wunti, Yandoka, Kobi
and Wunti market were closed.
There was a lot of fears among residents most of the city
as churches, markets and mosque were taken over by heavenly
armed mobile policemen to forestall possible attack.
But the protesters vandalized shops along Kobi Street, while
about four shops in Jahun were burnt down. Also affected was
the house of the President of the Yoruba Community in Bauchi,
Solomon Oladipo which was touched by the protesters.
The situation was still tense as at the time of filing this
report, a lot of people were still being rushed to the Specialist
Hospital, Bauchi while the State Commissioner of Police, Mr
Ibiyinka Kayode and top police officers were seen giving orders
to their men to control the situation.
The Red Cross Society Nigeria confirmed that three persons
have died and 15 injured in the violence. The Bauchi State
Secretary of the association, Adamu Abubakar told newsmen
that the situation remains unpredictable.
Adamu said the casualties are believed to have been matcheted
by hoodlums who attacked whosoever they see.
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