Lagos — AS tension continues to mount in parts of the country over Danish cartoons of Prophet Muhammed, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), yesterday, raised alarm over fresh plot by some muslim fanatics to attack Christians and churches again in Borno State and other states in the north.

PFN National President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor who disclosed this at a press briefing in Lagos said the attack would be unleashed today after Jumat prayers in northern mosques and would continue tomorrow (Saturday).

However, in Onitsha, Anambra State corpses of victims of Wednesday's mayhem still littered the streets of the town even as over 5,000 persons have taken refuge, at the army barracks.

Oritsejafor said the new plot is being hatched by prominent politicians in the north and would be executed in different cities and locations in the north.

"We have intelligence report and it is authentic that there are plans by some Muslims fanatics to kill more Christians and burn churches in Maiduguri and some other states in the north," he alleged.

Though the PFN boss did not disclose the identities of the planners he called on President Olusegun Obasanjo to intervene to save the country from experiencing another round of killings and wanton destruction of properties.

Describing the recent killings and burning of churches in Maiduguri, and Bauchi by Moslems protesting Prophet Mohammed cartoon as condemnable and unacceptable, Pastor Oritsejafor said it was the height of provocation.

He insisted that there was no link between Christians and the controversial cartoon and wondered why the protesters would hide under it to kill Christians and torch their worship centres.

"PFN believes that the very serious crises in part of Northern Nigeria which have resulted in the wanton destruction of innocent lives and properties could not be the result of the cartoon published some months ago in Denmark," he contended.

Rather, he anchored the violence on "sinister design by some evil people which has no foundation in religion but is calculated to destabilise the nation."

He called on the Federal Government to pay compensation to the victims as well as rebuild all the torched houses, even as he disclosed that PFN and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have set aside March 1 for prayers for the nation.

Meanwhile Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA) Dr. Lateef Adegbite has described the killings as an embarrassment to the nation and religious institution.

Meanwhile, about 5,000 northerners are taking refuge at Onitsha army barracks.

Commander of 302 Artillery Regiment, Col. Lucas Logagowoma said this while receiving the Obi of Onitsha Igwe Alfred Achebe who visited the refugees at the barracks with his chiefs.

He said that 70 persons out of the number have been hospitalized at the Onitsha General Hospital but most of them have left the hospital for fear of being killed by the angry mob.

Col. Lucas said that this has increased population in the baracks and added extra pressure on the occupants. He said that Gov. Chris Ngige of Anambra State has promised to send more doctors and para-medical staff for the treatment of the injured at the barracks.

He however denied the rumour that some children were killed, at Awada Primary School.

Col. Lucas urged the people to go about their normal business as normalcy is returning to Onitsha.

Igwe Achebe condemned the religious violence in the country especially in Onitsha, saying that those who are suffering may not know the origin of the cause of the riot.

The monarch who came with the Onowu Iyasele of Onitsha, Chief Chike Offodile (SAN) and other Onitsha High Chiefs commiserated with the victims for the loss of lives, injuries and property destroyed.

He urged the people to heed the advice of President Olusegun Obasanjo and other religious leaders in the country in upholding the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Obi said "People from all parts of Nigeria and beyond have lived here happily together in peace and mutual respect, without rancour or victimisation, despite differences in origin, religion and languages. The people of Onitsha believe in the inalienable right of every citizen and group to express themselves in our democratic dispensation, within the provisions of the constitution and laws of the country".

The Monarch also called on the Federal and State governments to set up probe panels to investigate the frequent religious violence in various parts of the country.

But Mohammed Sanusi, who claims to be the leader of Northern residents in the South of the country attributed the crisis to the third term political agenda of the present government, lamenting that the violence coinceded with the third term amendment hearing and the people are tired of the present government and its policies.

He condemned the violence which he said was started by hoodlums in Maiduguri, Borno State, saying that the violence has been condemned by all.

At Onitsha Prisons where the Comptroller-General of Prisons was being awaited as at the press time, 20 inmates were confirmed by the Deputy Comptroller of Prisons, Onitsha, Mr. Columbus Omenuko to have returned.

By yesterday evening, some corpses were still seen litering head bridge, Upper Iweka, New Market Road and other places in Onitsha.

Meanwhile though normalcy has returned to Awka Anambra State Capital and environs, students were sent back home, yesterday, in the state from their schools as government closed schools in the state following dangerous rumours that pupils of a school in Onitsha were shot by people suspected to be Hausas.

A press statement by Commissioner for Education, Professor Leonard Muoghalu, noted that the state government has watched with concern the events in Onitsha for the past few days and took the decision to allay the fears of the parents of guardians in the state.

Meanwhile, Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Abuja has called for a high-powered judicial commission of enquiry into the link between the Danish "cartoon crisis" and recent mayhem in parts of Nigeria.

Following an emergency meeting yesterday the apex Igbo socio-cultural association condemned it "in the strongest and most unequivocal terms," the recent needless and wanton destruction of lives and property in various parts of the country.

In a press statement on the resolution, signed by its, Deputy Chairman Mr. Auston Ifedinezi, Ohanaeze called on President Obasanjo to urgently use all the legal and constitutional means at his disposal to check this "ugly and destructive trend."

The association called on Ndigbo all over the country to continue to remain calm and never to take the law into their hands no matter the provocation, as they go about their normal and legal businesses.

"We firmly reaffirm our commitment to the indissolubility of the Nigerian state, and call on our other compatriots all over the country to show an equal commitment, in words and deeds, to this lofty ideal," the statement said.

It urged all law-enforcement agencies in the country to live up to their responsibility in the protection of lives and property, saying that way, "ordinary citizens would be prevented from taking the law in their own hands."

The organisation pledged its loyalty to the Obasanjo administration and wished him well in the task of protecting the lives and property of Nigerians everywhere in the country.