2 Die In Taraba Religious Crisis

Source: FIRAUNA GOWASH - thewillnigeria.com
PHOTO: A FILE PHOTO TAKEN DURING THE LAST CRISIS IN JOS.
PHOTO: A FILE PHOTO TAKEN DURING THE LAST CRISIS IN JOS.


JOS, July 14, (THEWILL) - Two persons were killed, while five mosques and a church were burnt down and several others injured yesterday following the outbreak of a crisis in Wukari, Taraba State.


The Taraba State Police command confirmed the deaths while investigation into the matter commenced.


Our correspondent learnt that the fight which started in the morning of Tuesday, was over an alleged demolition of a new mosque at the Police Area command office in Wukari.


Sources say a group of Christian youths had opposed the siting of the mosque within the premises of the Wukari Police Area Command office and had gone to the premises and brought it down.


The mosque was said to have been sited at the premises of the command on the orders of a newly posted zonal commander to the area.


Shortly after the youths believed to be Christians brought down the structure, some Muslim youths organised themselves and launched a reprisal attack on those who demolished the mosque. Other counter attacks were to follow leading to the escalation of violence in the town.


Taraba State Police commissioner, Musa Aliyu, confirmed the crisis saying it had to do with alleged demolition by some Christian youths of a mosque being constructed within the Wukari police area command office.


"So far we have received information that five mosques have been burnt and a church and the already demolished mosque making a total of seven religious houses that have been destroyed in the crisis."


The police Commissioner said the situation has however been brought under control with the deployment of more policemen to the area.