Christians in Borno State are worried by the decision of the government of the north-eastern state to demolish more than 20 churches and schools belonging to churches.
In addition to sporadic attacks on Christians by the Boko Haram Islamist sect, this demolition exercise, which will begin any moment from now, has left the Christians gravely concerned by the possibility of a wholesale attempt to Islamise the country’s heterogeneous religious population.
Already, the state government has dispatched a notice to the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and owners of farmlands in the area to convey its intention of acquiring these structures for a 1000 Housing Units.
According to a leaflet from the Office of the Borno State Ministry of Lands and Survey dated 20th August 2013, titled Notice of Acquisition and Assessment/Valuation of Structures on Proposed Site for 1000 Housing Units along Gubio Road Highway, and signed by Musa Ummate (O/C Land Administration) on behalf of the Commissioner was obtained by Journalists on Sunday in Abuja, the acquisition is in the interest of the public.
“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 has 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,” a part of the notice read.
“The acquisition is necessary in view of requirements of the land by the state government for overriding public interest to construct Housing Esate. The affected farmers and holders of structures are to take note and appear on site for the above exercise, please.”
However, a source denied the supposed pans of the government to develop the lands, saying instead that the actual plan is to destroy the churches and schools built by the churches. He also lamented that the affected people had tried to see the governor to no avail.
“The Christians went for the meeting called by the governor and for several hours, the governor didn’t come out to see them,” he said. “It is always difficult for Christians to get a land in Maiduguri. Even after getting the land, the government won’t give you Certificate of Occupancy. They compensated all Borno Muslims who are victims of Boko Haram but how many Christians were compensated?”
CAN, which has been notified of the plan, says government must have a rethink.
“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 earmarked for demolition are already developed with churches and schools,” General Secretary of CAN, Dr. Musa Asake, said in a media release.
“We have enough problems at hand and we don’t want to add another problem. 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.”
He revealed that CAN was yet to officially convey its thoughts to the state government because it first wanted to authenticate the source of the letter.
“We are going to reach out to the state government to make sure that Christians don’t lose their churches and lands there,” he said.
“But we have no reason to doubt the source of that letter. We have suffered enough in Borno State and enough of all these things, which are coming in another disguise.
“The Borno State government should reconsider that decision to demolish churches and their properties, because in Borno State, there are many vast expanses of land. They should do that instead of going to these areas where Christians have settled for long. We are asking the Borno State government not to tr
