Zulum demolished 11 mosques, 4 churches, not only Christian centres as claimed by EYN Church – MURIC

*No attempt to cause religious crisis in North again should be allowed – Respondents

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

In the meantime, questions are being asked as to why a religious centre would use lies, fake news and total misrepresentation to advance “the course of God”, as respondents condemned EYN Church over its attempt to cause another religious tension against a state that is only just coming out of a decade old Boko Haram led destructions.

Another misrepresentation, the similar of which usually caused religious crisis in the past, has been busted as findings show that the claims by EYN Church that Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum demolished only churches in the state capital is fake and twisted.

The Islamic human rights advocacy group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), which conducted investigations into the church’s claims, revealed that the Borno State Government actually demolished 11 mosques and four churches.

MURIC said in a statement sent to The DEFENDER on Tuesday that its findings were contrary to claims that only churches were demolished in the state.

The statement reads: “Contrary to a coordinated propaganda over the demolition of an EYN church in Maiduguri, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) can authoritatively report that the Borno State Geographic Information Systems (BOGIS) created by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, actually demolished 11 mosques and four churches, in the metropolis. The exercise began from 29th May, 2019 up till last week.

“A team of investigators working with MURIC visited each of the sites where the mosques were demolished, interviewed residents and gathered photographs and data that showed locations of each of the 11 mosques and dates of their demolition by officials of Borno State Government for violation of purpose approved in residential titles, which was in compliance with a 2010 Government White paper in response to the 2009 Boko Haram insurgency, which strictly prohibited the conversion of any residential house to a place of worship, in all parts of Borno State.

“Findings showed that two mosques were demolished by BOGIS on 11th March, 2020, around Fato Sandi, behind works department in Maiduguri, not far from the Shehu of Borno’s palace, who is next to the Sultan in the hierarchy of Nigeria’s leadership of the Muslim community. The Shehu is the Vice President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).

“Two mosques were again demolished by BOGIS on the same day (March 11, 2020), at old Musami complex along Jos road in Maiduguri. Again, a mosque was demolished on the same day opposite former NITEL. Another mosque was demolished on April 15, 2020 along Kano Road, adjoining Bulumkutu, Yola Electricity Distribution Company, YEDC. Two mosques were again demolished, one near a hotel in Galadima and another near behind Timber shade, in Baga Road.

“Our investigators further discovered that five other mosques conspicuously located at the Customs round-about in the western part of Maiduguri-Bama road were also demolished by BOGIS on 23rd January, 2020, for what the government called ‘overriding public interest’.

“All the 11 mosques were demolished either for violating residential purposes in their allocation titles or for overriding public interest. Of the 11 mosques demolished, five were for overriding public interest and six for violations of residential titles whereas all the four churches demolished (including the EYN) were strictly demolished for converting residential houses to churches, the same way six mosques were demolished. The measures were in compliance with a 2010 white paper which is against illegal places of worship as measures of regulation.

“We are nonplussed by the immense false propaganda flying around on this issue and we invite anyone who is genuinely in search of the truth to also do his or her findings. We advise armchair critics to be more enterprising. A single phone call to a friend or acquaintance in Maiduguri will debunk all the noise.

“For the first time in ‘geography’, Nigerians are blessed with an uncommon governor making things work in an uncommon way. Governor Babagana Umara Zulum may not have come from Mars, but his handiwork appears alien. It is satanic to attempt to bring down this wonderful performer via religious blackmail. Leave Governor Zulum alone. Allow him to concentrate on his good work.”

In the meantime, questions are being asked as to why a religious centre would use lies, fake news and total misrepresentation to advance “the course of God”, as respondents condemned EYN Church over its attempt to cause another religious tension against a state that is only just coming out of a decade old Boko Haram led destructions.

They warned that any such attempt by the likes of EYN Church to push the North back into the stone age of religious crisis, the similar of which the region, especially the North East part, is just overcoming now, would be resisted at all cost.

“Enough of a religious group twisting the good effort of government in the North to advance the course of God misrepresenting the reality on ground with intent to cause fresh trouble! Enough is and should be enough!” One of them said in his reaction corroborating the MURIC’s statement.