Following the religious crisis
that was averted last Wednesday at Sabon Kaura, a new settlement
behind ATBU, Bauchi, police authorities in Bauchi state have warned
all those they described as ‘disgruntled elements’ bent on disrupting
public peace to desist or be dealt with ruthlessly in accordance with
relevant laws that deal with public disturbance in the state.
Acting Police Commis-sioner in
the state, Mohammed A. Indabawa, who addressed newsmen on the
situation, yesterday, disclosed that the situation is under control as
his men were able to douse tension in the affected areas of the
metropolis, adding that full scale investigations have since commenced
to get to the root cause of the whole crisis.
He however described as baseless
insinuations that a section of the religious group is planning a
reappraisal attack to avenge whatever might have happened, which
eventually led to the near break down of law and order, and called on
"all law abiding citizens to go about their normal businesses without
any fear of attack or molestation from any group, as we on our part
are battle ready to deal with the situation."
Speaking on a purported text
message being circulated within Bauchi metropolis that Christians
should vacate their various homes for fear of attack, the acting
police commissioner said "it is baseless as no one can prove that such
a text existed, we have investigated and found out that it was a false
alarm, no Moslem sent such a text to any Christian woman, it was a
mere figment of the imagination of the person spreading the rumour."
Mohammed Indabawa then assured
that the state police command is working in conjunction with the state
government to ensure that people and their properties were secured
against any attack.
"Our men have been deployed to
all the flash points in Bauchi and are ready to deal with any crisis
situations, which we don’t even pray for. All is calm and it will
remain calm. Moslems and Christians in the state are one and all
belong to the government, no one is superior to the other," he added.
According to him, as at the time
of the press briefing, no one or group of persons has been arrested,
adding "we are investigating the two incidents but no one has been
arrested yet but I assure you that we will get to the root of the
matter".
