Twelve Killed in Student Riot
14 October 2002 At least twelve Christian students were killed and over 50 injured in a riot at the Federal College of Education in Zaria, Kaduna State in late September. The rioting broke out after a Christian candidate won the annual student union elections. Disgruntled Muslim students whipped up resentment among local Muslims who stormed the campus. Christian students were attacked and forced to flee. According to official sources twelve were killed and many others were injured and required treatment at the local hospital. Some Christian women students were raped. Unofficial reports indicate that as many as 50 people were killed. After three hours, order was restored by a police detachment. Following the outbreak of violence, the Kaduna State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called for the removal of the institution’s provost, Alhaji Aliyu Shika, citing as their reason the fact that, in previous college posts, his actions have resulted in religious tensions and violence. They also claim that he failed to help injured and raped Christian students after the riot in Zaria. A CAN spokesman said, “… all we know is that Alhaji Shika must be removed because of his antecedents.” There have been reports of similar incidents on other college student union elections. Such religiously motivated clashes provide a worrying reminder of the possibility of widespread religiously motivated violence during national elections scheduled for next year. In another indication of the pressure on Christians in Nigerian states that have implemented Shari’ah (Islamic law), reports indicate that the government of Kano State is pursuing a plan to reduce the number of churches in the state by seventy-five percent. This is even higher than in August when state government officials told a church delegation that there were too many churches in the state and asked the Christian leaders to approve the demolition of half of them. Twenty church buildings have already been demolished since the implementation of Shari’ah in Kano three years ago. However, the church leaders refused to agree to further demolitions. One church leader is reported as saying, “We told them that we would rather have all churches in the state demolished than to support the demolition of some.” PRAY Pray for the families of those killed in the riot in Zaria. Pray that God will comfort them at this time of loss. Pray too that those who were injured will soon recover and be able to resume their education. Pray that the run-up to presidential and parliamentary elections (due to take place next year) will not lead to further violence between Christians and Muslims. Pray that the government in Kano state will not demolish any more churches. BARNABAS FUND E-MAIL NEWS SERVICE The Barnabas Fund’s e-mail news service provides our supporters with short urgent news briefs and prayer requests for suffering Christians around the world. Please do share these news items with your Christian friends and churches. All news items are available on our website in a more colourful user-friendly presentation format which you can access, print and pass on. If you are not already receiving these news briefs directly from the Barnabas Fund and would like to, please contact us with your name, postal and e-mail addresses, and details of the church you attend. The Barnabas Fund, The Old Rectory, River Street, PEWSEY, Wiltshire, SN9 5DB, UK, Tel 01672 564938, Fax 01672 565030, E-mail info@barnabasfund.org Web www.barnabasfund.org