Daily Trust (Abuja)

Nigeria: Miscreants Burn Church, Mosque in Gombe

Just as normalcy is returning to Jos and environs after religious crisis in Plateau State, the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) and a mosque at the Government Science Secondary School in Gombe were yesterday torched by youths.

Though no life was lost in the crisis, security was tightened across the state in order to stop it from spreading. The state government has summoned an emergency security meeting with all stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the conflict.

Reverend Sabo Buba told BBC Hausa Service that the school's four classrooms and desks were all burnt to ashes by the miscreants who tried to disturb the peace and tranquility being enjoyed by the people of the state.

While describing the development is disheartening, he appealed to the Christian youths to remain calm especially as no life was lost. He said what they want and have been advocating for is peace among all the people of the state.

On his part, Muslim leader Utaz Tijjani Ahmad, an Islamic preacher in the state, urged the government to take serious measures because the school (GSSS) has been turned into be a center of misunderstanding, stressing that no religion condones violence, killing and burning of property.

He said usually whenever something similar to this happens, leaders do not get involved. He blamed the development on some few individuals who are the enemies of peace.

The Islamic preacher said they used to have wider consultations among themselves in order to find a lasting solution to crisis and asked those maltreated to forgive and forget.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Abdullahi Kamba confirmed the skirmish. He said the police have taken drastic measure to stop the spread of the crisis by sending officers to maintain peace, adding that investigation is going on to fish out the culprits.


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