Three Killed, Five Injured As Bauchi Boils After Midnight Party

Three persons were said to have been killed while five were injured with several houses and car burnt to ashes, following a purported disagreement between Christian and Muslim youths during a mid-night party.

This came on the heels of a night attack which was said to have been carried out by Muslim youths from Lushi on a nearby Christian community in Tsakani Yelwa axis of Bauchi metropolis, as retaliation.

It was gathered that the Muslim youths broke several houses and attacked soft targets using dangerous weapons, and chanting war songs.

Several people sustained serious injuries from knives, swords and guns with blood littered on the ground.

The development was said to have caused pandemonium as people without arms scampered for safety.

Joash and Happy Joshua, who both suffered deep cuts, said the Muslim attackers met them in front of their family house while they were attempting to run for safety.

Our correspondent learnt that trouble started when Christian and Muslim youths had an altercation, with the Muslim youths mobilising for attack in retaliation.

On visiting the scene of the crisis after the mid night attack, smoke and fire was still burning some houses with residents seen in groups lamenting the incident.

However, transport, economic and other activities in the areas were also grounded while armed security were on patrol to contain the situation.

A resident, Mrs Jummai Madalla had accused the police of arresting her innocent son including other Christian youths while none of the attackers has so far been arrested.

“Police threatened to killed me apart from harassing us inside our family house using guns instead of going after the attackers because they fear the Muslim youths which is unacceptable,” she said.

Meanwhile, some of the residents went haywire protesting the arrest of Christian youths by the police as it almost resulted to a clash between the youths and security agents.

The Bauchi state Police commissioner, Sunusi Lemu, confirmed that about three people were killed, but could not confirm the number of those that were injured.

He added that the command learnt of the burning of the houses and cars by the attackers, and quickly mobilised armed policemen to the scene to contain the situation.

Lemu expressed regret over the incident, assuring that the command will fish out the attackers in no distant time.

“The command was alerted of the incident in Tsakani Yelwa that there was disagreement between some groups of youths after a midnight party that took place in the area, and that resulted to the fracas,” he said.

The Police commissioner warned troublemakers to desist from causing violence in the state, especially as the 2019 election gathers momentum, and ensure peace between adherents of the two religions.