Fear Grips Christians In Kano, Kaduna

Following the news of the extermination of the leader of Al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, apprehension has gripped Christians in Kano since yesterday.

Non natives and Christians who reside in places like Hotoro, Badawa, Kurana, Brigade quarters and most other flash points fled the areas to the barracks and Sabongeri for fear of possible attack on them by Muslims.

Only recently, during the post-election violence lives and property were lost mostly in those Kano non-indigene dominated areas.

Christians in the state were attacked in 2004 when American troops invaded Afghanistan in search of Osama bin Laden owing to the 11 September, 2001 attack on America. During that attack there was wanton destruction of lives and property in Kano by Muslim fanatics who were sympathetic to Osama and his Al-Qaeda group.

Though there is apprehension in the wake of the killing of bin Laden, P.M.NEWS authoritatively reports that between yesterday and as at the time of filing this report Kano, has remained calm.

Most of the non-natives and the Christians who fled their home yesterday have started returning to their homes.

However, there was a large presence of security operatives particularly the soldiers and mobile policemen were noticeable on the streets.

Also, plain clothes security men including the State Security Service, SSS, are part of the team monitoring the situation to prevent any breach of security.

Movement is free, businesses are running smoothly but Kano residents were seen discussing in groups the development.

Also, in its bid to checkmate possible protest by any Islamic fundamentalist group, over the killing of the world’s most wanted terrorist, the police in Kaduna have beefed up security within and outside the capital city of Kaduna.

The need to intensify security in the state arose from residents’ fear that the late Osama bin Laden had some followers in Kaduna who might want to embark on a public protest over the killing of Osama believed to be “fighting America’s injustice” against the Islamic world.

The Kaduna State Police Public Relation Officer, Amina Lawan, who confirmed the readiness of the police to maintain peace and order in the state, informed P.M.NEWS this morning that the police were aware that there could be a protest in reaction to the killing of Osama.

He said the police were not only on the alert but also have made adequate security arrangement to respond to such unnecessary protest in the state.

Lawan warned the public to desist from making statements capable of inciting and causing breach of the peace.

—Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano & Femi Adi/Kaduna