The Borno State Government has
begun moves to demolish over 20
churches and schools built by them.
Our correspondent gathered on
Sunday that the state government
would embark on the demolition
exercise any moment from now.
Sources hinted that the state
government had already dispatched a
notice to the leadership of the
Christian Association of Nigeria,
Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and
owners of farmlands in the area
intimating them of the plan to acquire
the site for a 1000 housing units.
A leaflet from the office of the Borno
State Ministry of Lands and Survey
dated August 20 and signed by one
Musa Ummate (O/C Land
Administration) on behalf of the
commissioner was obtained by
journalists on Sunday in Abuja.
The leaflet is titled, ‘Notice of
acquisition and assessment/valuation
of structures on proposed site for
1000 Housing Units along Gubio Road
Highway.’
It reads: “I am directed to refer to you
farmers and holders of structures on
the proposed site for caption matter
above and regret to inform you that
the Executive Governor has, on the
power conferred on him by Section
(2)b of the Land Use Act 1978,
directed through high powered
committee on Construction Ref. no:
HPCC/2500/HE/S/TEC/1 to notify you
of his intention to acquire your farm
lands and assessment/valuation of
the structures on the proposed site
situated along Gubio Road, Maiduguri.
“The acquisition is necessary in view
of requirements of the land
acquisition by the state government
for overriding public interest to
construct a Housing Esate. The
affected farmers and holders of
structures are to take note and appear
on site for the above exercise,
please.”
But a CAN source said, “Over 20
churches and many schools will be
affected. The parcels of land on which
the churches were built were bought
from farmers and have the authority
and certificate of the District Head in
Maiduguri popularly called Bulama.
The land was not under the ministry
when it was bought.”
When contacted, the General
Secretary of CAN, Dr. Musa Asake,
confirmed the development but called
on the Borno State Government to
have a rethink.
He said, “We have seen that eviction
notice from the Borno State
Government. We are all Nigerians and
there are other places where the state
government can develop. The areas
being earmarked for demolition are
already developed with churches and
schools.
“We have enough problems at hand
and we don’t want to add another
one. Christians have suffered enough
in Borno State. If the state
government wants to destroy
churches and build any housing
estate, no Christian will see it as a sign
of progress.”
Asake promised that CAN would take
up the matter with Borno State
Government as soon as it was
confirmed that the letter actually
emanated from the government.
Several calls and text messages to the
mobile phone of the Borno State
Commissioner for Information, Mr.
Inuwa Bwala, as at 3:45 pm on
Sunday for the state government’s
reaction were not replied.

www.punchng.com

In the whole of Niger-Delta region I dont think there are up to 20 mosques there. Bt in North there are more churches than even the Christains themselves, but that is not a justification to demolishh churches in Maiduguri or North. The government said it want to use the land to construct houses for its citizens, I dnt think the church shld hv prblm with that. Bt the state shld compensate them and relocate to another place.

T-smooth:
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see your life

When some of us say that virtually every Muslim great or small are staunch supporters of Boko Haram offering same overtly or covertly, others want us to look the way. Their sole aim to Islamize Nigeria(God forbid) will be more aggressive should we have a northern president.
Watch out!

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T-smooth:
In the whole of Niger-Delta region I dont think there are up to 20 mosques there. Bt in North there are more churches than even the Christains themselves, but that is not a justification to demolishh churches in Maiduguri or North. The government said it want to use the land to construct houses for its citizens, I dnt think the church shld hv prblm with that. Bt the state shld compensate them and relocate to another place.

I find it hard to believe you said this because a human in is right senses won't say this. I'm sorry you need help...

20 mosque should be destroyed too somewhere in the middle belt or any christian dominated state. An eye for an eye tins