Crime
Emotions as EYN buries church leader Borno govt security agent killed during demolition
“I will go with Jesus to any length, no matter the roughness of the road. I must go, I must go!”
That was the song, in Hausa, that zippered through the air as members carried the remains of Bitrus Ezekiel, the 29-year-old son of the pastor of kklesiyya Yanuwa of Nigeria (EYN) shot dead by security agents of Borno government.
It happened last week when the Borno Geographic Information System officers came to demolish the church building at Maduganari, Maiduguri, for violating the state regional and urban planning law.
Bitrus, a family man and pastor, joined others in protesting the demolition they considered unjust, and in the rumpus that followed, a security agent fired a shot that killed Bitrus.
Governor Babagana Zulum has ordered the police to investigate the shooting.
The National Daily reported how the state chapter of CAN insisted since 1979, the government has not been issuing churches land documents, yet keep demolishing church building with no titles.
Many have seen this as persecution of Borno Christians, especially following the state’s CAN assertion.
This position has, however, been refuted.
The Zulum administration has rebuilt no fewer than 10 churches demolished in the state.
These include: the EYN LCC Ghung, EYN LCC Sangyere, EYN LCC Kirbutu, EYN LCC Tashan Alade, EYN LCC Shidifu, EYN LCC Azare, EYN LCC Kwajaffa, EYN DCC Yawa Wamdeo and EYN LCC Piyami in Hawul, Chibok and Askira-Uba local government areas of Southern Borno.
“A government that wants to wipe out Christians as alleged will not take such steps, but Zulum did it in the interest of Peaceful coexistence and against all the odds,” Madu Mohammed Bakura a resident of Maiduguri told PRNigeria.
The Muslim Rights Concern, however, also countered the CAN insinuation.
According to the body, so far the state has demolished 11 mosques and for churches.
The EYN congregants and other Christians have been worshipping right on the ruins of their former building since last Thursday.
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