As the Administrative Panel of Inquiry set up to investigate the recent crisis in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, prepares to submit its report to Governor Ali Modu Sherrif tomorrow, its Chairman, Ambassador Ahmed Baba Jidda has told Daily Trust in an exclusive interview that he believes the crisis was hatched to achieve some political objectives.

Ambassador Baba Jidda explained that the committee believes that those who perpetrated the mayhem came from outside Borno state to carryout a script, adding that Borno, which is known in history as a peaceful state, was thrown into confusion as a result of political and selfish objectives of those behind the crisis.

"I think honestly that the whole crisis has a political undertone. I believe Borno State has been known for a very long time for the peaceful coexistence among its people. We in Borno have not only been tolerating each other, we have also been accepting each other for a very long time. It was therefore very shocking to us to see that a peaceful rally held by Muslims could escalate into a near uncontrollable situation where churches, shops, houses, and human lives were all destroyed within a very short period of time".

"We believe strongly that those involved are non indigenes; they were mostly people who have come from other states of the federation. They are miscreants; they seemed to have been told to come and carry out a particular function; cause disturbance in an otherwise peaceful state. If, like I suspect, there are people behind this, then it is unfortunate that for political or other selfish reasons, some people could create tension, kill people " the administrative inquiry panel chairman said.

Ambassador Baba Jidda said that his committee has made relevant recommendations to government which would help strengthen the peace in Borno state and prevent a recurrence of the February 18, 2006 crisis in which lives were lost while property worth millions of naira were destroyed.

Although the inquiry panel chairman did not give details of the specific recommendations made by his committee, he hinted that the committee would call for the setting up of a forum in the state where Muslim and Christian community leaders as well as other relevant stakeholders would be meeting to strengthen the foundations of a peaceful co-existence and to know how each side is doing. "This would be part of our recommendations; to create a forum between people of different religious and ethnic backgrounds in a heterogeneous state like Borno. We certainly need this kind of forum", he said.

About 200 people have so far been arrested following the Maiduguri crisis, out of which 49, mostly teenage suspects have been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Maiduguri. At least four suspects were said to have died in police and military custody, although there are no details yet as to their identity or where they come from.

The suspects were charged to court on a two count charge of inciting disaffection against the Borno state government by taking part in incitement, contempt of religious creed and defiling of places of worship (churches) and destruction of life and property, and inciting hatred against a class of people (Christians and Igbos), in such a way as to endanger public peace.

Their case comes up for hearing again on April 3, 2006.

Normalcy has returned to Maiduguri after the crisis and people are now going about their normal social and business activities

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