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  • Over 50 Pastors and Youth Groups Demand Immediate Reconstruction of Demolished EYN Church

    Over 50 Pastors and Youth Groups Demand Immediate Reconstruction of Demolished EYN Church

    …Passes Vote Of No Confidence On CAN Chairman In Borno.

    From Dauda R Pam Maiduguri

    No fewer than 50 inter-denominational Pastors and youth groups, Friday, converged at the demolished site of the Church of Brethren, Ekklisiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN), Maduganari in Maiduguri Borno state capital.

    With a call on Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, to immediately reconstruct the destroyed Church building, its pure water factory and security post among other facilities destroyed by officials of Borno Geographic Information System (BOGIS).

    The dastardly act which has since attracted outright condemnation by section of the society over the demolition of the church and subsequent firing of gun shots by a member of Civilian Joint Task Force, CJTF, as well as some persons who hurled stones at the task force during an encounter, Thursday, with officials of BOGIS, led by its Executive Secretary, Enginneer Adam Bukar Bababe resulting to the death of one person and several others in hospital.

    In a swift reaction, the Borno State Governor, BABAGANA UMARA ZULUM in a state wide broadcast, appealed for calm, and ordered for immediate investigation into the matter, so as to punish anyone found wanting.

    And has equally delegated his Deputy, Umar Usman Kadafur we who visited the victims at the hospital and ordered for settlement of their medical bills.

    Addressing a press conference at the demolished site of the EYN Church on Friday,the Pastor in charge, Reverend Shawulu Auta Ndahi, condemned the killing of one of his church member while attempting to protect the Church from demolition.

    He said, there is nothing worth on earth that can compensate life and placed a request to the State Government to immediately assist the families of the deceased and those who sustained gunshot wounds currently recieving treatment at a State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri.

    Hear him,”We have gathered here today to express our displeasure over what has happened to our Church and its members.

    “Yesterday (Thursday) morning at about 11am, we recieved a distress call that some officials of BOGIS in company of some CJTF and graders came and demolished our Church with all facilities destroyed.

    “In the process, some of our aggrieved members started hurling stones at the officials of BOGIS, before Some CJTF members opened fire after seizing their communication gadjets, which led to the killing of Mr. Ezekiel Bitrus, May His Gentle Soul Rest In Peace.

    “In view of these unwholesome conduct, we are hereby displaying all our Certificate of Occupancy and other relevant Documents used in acquiring this land which are legal documents.

    ” Therefore, as a Church which believe in peace and unity, we have some immediate demands for Governor Zulum to; Immediatelly reconstruct our demolished Church and other facilities including our pure water factory.

    “Although, there is nothing worth on earth that can compensate life, we request the State Government to immediately assist the families of the deceased and those who sustained gunshot wounds currently recieving treatment at a State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri.

    ” We called on the state government to immediately remove Engineer Adam Bukar Bababe from heading BOGIS which is an agency of government tasked with responsibility of land maintenance.

    “The Church which has 99% of its membership are citizens of Borno, also want the State Government to lift the ban on the teaching of Christian Religious Knowledge(CRK) in all our Primary and Secondary schools as it has been the practice in the past, as the constitution allows for freedom of worship in the country.” The Pastor in charge stated.

    Similarly, the Youth CAN Chairman Metro, Mr. Sunday Ishaku,in his remarks condemned in strong terms the unfortunate incident on behalf of Christian Youth Groups and prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased and quick recovery of those who sustained injuries during the fracas.

    The CAN youth chairman used the occasion to pass a vote of no confidence on the state CAN Chairman, Bishop Mohammed Naga, whom he alleged led some officials and individuals to meet with Governor Zulum some hours after the incident at the Government House just for their selfish interest.

    “We are disappointed with the CAN leadership under the Chairmanship of Bishop Mohammed Naga, becuase as I address you today, Bishop Naga has failed to officially come out with a statement regarding this unwholesome treatment meted to us by BOGIS and men of CJTF”.

  • One Killed Following Demolition Of EYN Church In Borno

    One Killed Following Demolition Of EYN Church In Borno

    By Dauda R Pam MAIDUGURI

    Not more than one person lost his life as several others sustained various degrees of injuries following the demolition of Ekklesiyar Yan’Uwa a Nigeria, EYN, church by a demolition team of the Borno state Geographic Information Service (BOGIS).

    It was gathered that BOGIS opened fire at armless civilians during a demolition exercise at Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN)Church in Maduganari area in Maiduguri the state capital when some angry youths confronted the team headed by Adam Bukar Bababe, the executive secretary of BOGIS.

    The protest was triggered after a driver of an escalator started destroying the structure of the church including the properties inside which included Chairs, board, fridges, television sets, public address system and other properties.

    A Civilian Joint Task Force Member in the demolition team, it was further gathered, opened fire at the crowd to dispersed them which resulted in the killing of a 29 year old man, Ezekiel Bitrus, and five others severely injured as they attempted to flee for safety.

    The reckless shooting, however, provoked angry youths within the communities who went on rampage to convey their displeasure over the killing by attacking the team.

    The BOGIS Executive Secretary, narrowly escaped being lynched by the angry youths after he was whisked away by security personnels, while other members of his team took to their hills after some youths gave them a chase from the spot of the incident.

    The sources said that the shooter also escaped while other members of the Civilian Joint Task Force removed their uniforms and fled the scene for the fear of being lynched.

    However, four vehicles belonging to a humanitarian organisation were vandalised by the youths.

    It took intervention of personnel of the Borno Police Command, Garison Command Operation Hadin Kai, and a team from the Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN), to bring the situation under control.

    Meanwhile, Governor Zulum has condemned in strong terms, the firing of gun shots by member of security task force as well as some persons who hurled stones at the task force during the encounter on Thursday.

    The incident which claimed the life of one person and five others currently receiving medicare at the hospital.

    Special Adviser madia to the governor, Isa Gusau, has since conveyed a statement to commiserate with families of the person who died and those injured and ordered the BORNO Police Command to commence an investigation into the incident.

    And called on the chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in Borno State, Bishop Mohammed Naga and spoke with him to commiserate with the Christian community and leadership and family of the EYN church in Borno.

    He also invited the CAN leadership for a meeting and directed the deputy governor, Umar Kadafur to visit the hospital where the five injured persons were admitted to empathize with them and take-over their bills.