Bauchi still boils
• Shops, worship centres burnt
By PAUL ORUDE, Bauchi
Thursday, December 13, 2007

 
Photo: AP

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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