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9 dead as Christian, Muslim youths clash over girlfriends in Kaduna

Published

7 years ago

February 26, 2018

Nine people have been feared dead, with several houses razed following a clash over girlfriends between Christian and Muslim youths at Kasuwan Magani area of Kaduna on Monday.

The crisis reportedly which started at about 10 a.m on Monday left churches, mosque and shops razed down. The State police spokesman, Aliyu Mukhtar, who confirmed the incident told NewsTelegraph that it has been brought under control and police was taking inventory of damages that occurred during the clash.

“The situation has been brought under control. We got a distress call this morning and the Commissioner of Police directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police operations to move to the area. As I talk to you now, the ACP is already there” he said.
There are two stories however, on what led to the crisis in the area. One version of the story claimed that Christians and Muslims were at logger heads for some time now in the area over Christian girls, who were dating Muslims boys and Muslim girls who were dating Christian boys.

However an eyewitness told NewsTelegraph correspondent, that a Christian girl was abducted and forcefully converted to Islam, and taken to the residence of the Sarkin (Chief of ) Kasuwan Magani. However the locals mobilized themselves to rescue the girl, a development that angered the Muslim youths who turned up to counter the move.

A Christian youth also resident in the area who did not want his name in print, alleged that Muslims were abducting Christian girls and converting them to Islam, and that was what the crisis was all about.

The Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has condemned the attack, called on the relevant security agencies to ensure the prosecution of the culprits. The Kaduna government said, it its statement, that “security agencies must investigate this unfortunate incident, arrest and make available for prosecution the perpetrators”.