Bauchi still boils
• Shops, worship centres burnt
By PAUL ORUDE, Bauchi
Thursday, December 13, 2007
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| Photo:
AP |
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There was palpable fear among residents of Bauchi, the Bauchi
State capital on Wednesday morning as rioters continued their
onslaught in the Yelwa area burning houses, business outlets
and worship centres and attacking innocent citizens.
The situation has paralysed economic and social activities
in the area, even as fears and anxiety mount over possible
spill over of the crisis to other sections of the state capital.
Daily Sun correspondent, who visited some of the burnt houses
and shops around the Anguwar Kashiu, Yelwa Tudu area amidst
tight security, discovered that the level of damage and casualty
has continued to increase. The death toll has also risen,
amidst fears among citizens that the crisis may extend to
flash spots such as Kobi, Bakarau, Yandoka and Wunti.
Schools and other institutions around the area have ben forced
to close as parents withdrew their wards from schools.
Hundreds of people were seen trekking long distances towards
the Police Teachers College, Yelwa and the Shadawanka Barracks
to seek refuge.
Residents are complaining that the government has been slow
in curtailing the crisis as they lament their loss in human
and materials.
Moblie policemen and soldiers were seen patrolling the troubled
spots.
The attacks are coming even after the state governor, Mallam
Isa Yuguda, who cut short his holy trip to Saudi Arabia, visited
the affected areas on Tuesday in company of the state Commissioner
of Police, Adanaya Gaya, the Brigade Commander of the 33 Artillery
Brigade , Major General Ishaya Maigari and the AIG Zone 12,
Yusuf Haruna.
They were shocked at the level of carnage.
Following the civil disturbance, the state government has
constituted a 13-man committee of inquiry to find out the
remote and immediate causes of the crisis just as the government
has appealed for peaceful coexistence among the people of
the state.
Government said the committee is to find out what led to the
crisis, pointing out that anyone linked to the crisis either
directly or indirectly will be dealt with in accordance with
all the relevant laws of the land.
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