Security operatives attached to the Borno State Geographic Information System in charge of the assessment of land documents in Maiduguri have allegedly gunned down two residents of Maduganarim.
The incident happened when the agency led by Engr. Adam Bababe went to the area to demolish a Church building.
The building, which belongs to Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN), was said to have been demolished for not being cited in a proper place but members said the church has been there long before the coming of the Zulum administration in Borno.
According to them, demolishing their place of worship by the government of Borno State shows that the government is anti-Christian.
According to the Daily Post residents said that there was no warning or prior information about the move by the agency to demolish the Church building.
“We woke up this morning and saw Engr. Bababe and his men coming to destroy our Church. Some members of the Church approached them and the security operatives attached to the agency opened fire on them, killing two people.
“Thier corpses are currently at the state specialists hospital,” a resident who identified himself as Amos Audi told our correspondent in Maiduguri.
The situation turned violent as residents said the government is against Christians, adding my that if it were a mosque, they would not have demolished it.
“We have never seen the government of Borno State going to demolish a mosque no matter where the mosque was cited, unless they want to build a bigger one. Our Church has its papers and documents intact.
“Churches will never buy a land by cutting corners but because they did not want a Church in that area they have come to demolish it,” Jacob Ayuba, another resident and member of the Church said.
“What the government resorted to doing is a witchhunt. There are mosques in places where they should not be but this government did not go there to demolish them, but are demolishing churches which have papers. This is wickedness. Our people are currently mobilising to March to the government house to protest the killing and demolition of our Church by Engr. Bababe and his team,” Another resident said.
