By Nike Earland
Governor Bala Mohammed, of Bauchi state on Saturday ordered a probe into the violence that erupted in the Katangan area of Warji Local Government Area of Bauchi State over an alleged case of blasphemy.

Governor Mohammed stated this when he visited the community on the computer of any of the heads of security agencies and top government officials, to assess the extent not of damage and sympathize with the people.

The tension and devastation, of the property, was the result of a social media post by a 40-year-old staff of the Medical Department Warji Local Government, Rhoda Jatau, which was considered blasphemous to Islam, the post to an unspecified number of people, including a pastor, sustained varying degrees of injury while many houses were torched.

Confirming the incident in a statement on Saturday, the PPRO for the Bauchi State Police Command, Ahmed Wakil, said, “On 20th May 2022 at about 5.45pm5.45 pirate youths set six houses and seven shops ablaze, while some scores of persons were injured as a result of a blasphemous message posted on a social media by one Rhoda Jatau (female) 40 years old staff the Medical Department Warji Local Government.

“The police have since deployed all tactical teams, Mobile Police Force and Rapid Response Squad, whose joint efforts brought the situation under control.

The area is calm for now, while visibility patrols are ongoing the peace.

“The Commissioner of Police appeal to the general public to be calm and go about their lawful business without any fear of intimidation as normalcy has been restored in the affected area.”

Mohammed assured that the state would set up an investigation panel to unravel the situation and anyone found wanting among both the Christians and the Muslims would be punished according to the law.

Mohammed said, “I am dead and I feel very sad that this incident happened in Warji because Warji is a home of peace. The Christian community has been here in Warji for many years. Although they are a minority they’ve with the majority. And when I found out that the person who precipitated this violence and rampage is not even an indigene of Warji, my mind was soothed by that understanding.

“This social media is evil, technology is good but sometimes, it can be used against us. Even the girl, who started this, borrowed this thing from Ghana. The security has briefed me, but certainly, two wrongs cannot make a right. We should restrain ourselves and be peaceful with each other.

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“We will make sure that we don’t encourage this, reward and punishment must be embedded in this, as the Commissioner of Police has said. But please, I know with small things come up. Somebody’s house is burnt, he’s bound to feel bad, please, exercise patience in the name of God and if you won’t do it because of me or anything, do it in the name of the God that you believe in, because Bauchi is known for peace.

“You can see banditry everywhere, Boko Haram everywhere, please, sheath the sword and embrace peace and harmony. We are all one.”

The governor added, “Since I came on board, this hasn’t happened; although something similar happened but that was typically in Gudum Sayawa and Gudum Fulani, but we dealt with it. But this one is more dangerous than political upheavals. I, for one, will not tolerate this. I may be carrying the carrots all the time, but I am the Kauran Bauchi Karanill carry the stick.”

He said he was unable to sleep over the latest incident, saying “my mind was here thinking at the level of the incident but thank God that no life was lost.

“All these properties are from God. We will set up an investigation to fish out the culprits and we will bring succor to those who suffered losses. Don’t reignite this thing again.”

Reflecting on the scale of damage, the governor added: “I saw a widow there (whose house was affected) and my heart is touched; she’s a very peaceful woman. Even when I knelt down to greet her was just saying that there was no problem.

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In his remarks,  Pastor of the Evangelical Church Winning All, (ECWA) whose shops were burnt, Musa Buba Bajam, appreciated the visit by the governor to commiserate with them.

He called on the local authorities to be just and fair irrespective of religious leanings

“I want to beg the leadership of the local government to be fair to everyone; they shouldn’t lead as if other people (Christians) don’t exist, it brings contempt. Secondly, the District Head should also take charge of his place, Christians and Muslims here are all the same before him, all of us are his subjects.

“We don’t want to talk more and go into the details, but the things that happened are not good and fair. District Head, we are all your children, anything that happens, intervene on our behalf on time, it will help us.