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Kaduna violence escalates amidst tales of arson in
the North
Newsdiaryonline
Tues
April 19,2011
The violence in Kaduna is reported to have
escalated beyond the metropolis.There were reports today
that riots have spread to the southern part of the state even as
the situation within Kaduna metropolis was ''very bad''.
'I think the thing has taken religious turn',
said a resident taking refuge in one of the security
formation.In Kaduna riots are always very bloody because of the
longstanding struggle between muslim north and christian
Southern Kaduna.But what started as protest over election
results may have taken a new twist according to residents of the
metropolis
In fact sms messages have been sent to
people living outside Kaduna urging them not to attempt
travelling to Kaduna from Abuja as the road is said to be
a major killing field.It is not clear where the sms originated
from.
``We also learnt that churches, homes of
prominent people as well as mosques are being burnt.It is
unfortunate that this is happening in spite of the
curfew''Newsdiaryoline was told.
One remarkable trend of these riots is that
even in moslem dominated areas almajiris burnt down buildings
and property belonging prominent people in Kaduna.One of
the victim was Uba Sani,former special adviser to ex president
Olusegun Obasanjo and a former senatorial aspirant .It was
learnt that some of his vehicles were burnt down by about 100
youths who came to his Kaduna
home.Reports said a property belonging to the Emir of Zaria
in Kaduna metroplis was set ablaze yesterday.There were several
other tales of burnt houses Newsdiaryonline could not confirm
immediately.
In Kano, eye witnesses said the
properties and shops of largely PDP and ANPP big wigs whom the
youth have an ax to grind were destroyed.Ghali Na'bba and Bashir
Tofa's homes were set on fire.Some properties in he palace of
the Emir of Kano were reportedly set ablaze.
This is evidenly t a new kind of riot.''Apart
from the religious dimension, I think this is also turning into
a class war'', said a prominent Kano citizen.
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