“Over 100 dead bodies have been deposited at the premises of the police headquarters and more are still being brought in,” Ibrahim Bala, a local radio journalist, told AFP.
The two days wave of violence in northern Nigeria has been everything between horror and panic in Borno state, where more than 3,000 people have been displaced.
A group of Islamic extremists, fighting to install Taliban-rule in the country, provoked the unrest in Bauchi, Sunday. The security forces have been repelling them in all the three predominantly Muslim states in the north of Nigeria, where the violence quickly spread.
With the high security build up and curfews in place, the violence seems to have died down Tuesday, but the fear still lingers in people’s minds.
After an attack on police posts and public buildings yesterday, President Yar’Adua’s called for calm and ordered the security forces to contain the extremists with all measure necessary.
Speaking on the incident of Bauchi yesterday, the Assistance Inspector General of Police (AIG), said that after the militants have attacked the Dutsin Tanshi police station, the police had no other option but to open fire on the members, in self-defence.
The police killed 39 of the attackers and wounded many others. Two policemen and a soldier lost their lives in the violence which presently put the number of dead in about 150.
Mohammed Maigari Khanna, a spokesperson for the governor of Bauchi state, where the violence first began Sunday, said security forces were searching for militants who had tried to flee the state and had arrested some of them. He said a dusk-to-dawn curfew had been imposed, and “there is presence of security operatives all over the place.” APF.
Since power was transferred to civilian in May 29, 1999, about 10,000 Nigerians have died in sectarian violence.
The crises in Niger Delta, involving MEND (Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta), fighting for a greater share of the oil money derived from their soil only subsided few weeks ago.
Millions of Nigerians are waiting for President Yar’Adua’s to deliver on his self assigned seven points agenda.
If anything, the wish of the administration right now is far away from having two different crises in both south and north of the country.
Ewanfoh Obehi Peter
The report of AlJazeera English
Islamist Attacks in Nigeria – The best bloopers are here
Did you find this information helpful? If you did, consider donating.