The Sunday of May 6, 2012 in Sabon Gari, Kano saw the Christian dominated community under intense security siege as uniformed and plain cloths security operatives patrolled the streets of Sabon Gari and the gated entrances to the Churches and other locations where people congregate. As information available to 247ureports.com reveals, the Joint Task Force [JTF] staged in Kano State had received intelligence reports that the Islamic terrorist group, the Boko Haram were in the final stages of a planned attack against the Christian community resident in Sabon Gari, Kano.
Following the attack at the Bayero University [old campus] worship center, the intelligence gathering units of the JTF uncovered broad plans by the men of Boko Haram to orchestrate an Al Qeada-like attack in Kano particularly on Church goers living inside Sabon Gari. This information was obtained through the many raids against the Boko Haram hide outs in Kano. According to a security source in Kano, the men of Boko Haram, through the materials recovered from raids, have plans of attacking the various Christian owned businesses in Kano – in an effort to make true of their threat for non-Muslims to vacate the north and particularly the state. The source continued to add that the men of Boko Haram have adopted a dynamic approach to their methodology – in that they have made themselves difficult to track down by the men of JTF. “They are now constantly on the move” stated the security source, “but we will get them“.
Meanwhile church attendance at the christian dominate community of Sabon Gari has been reported to dramatically drop to near insignificant numbers. The St. Stephen Anglican Church located in Sabon Gari along New Road – which normally holds over 2,700 worshippers at a single seating was reported to witness less than a 150 worshipper on Sunday – despite the heavy security presence. Our Lady of Fatima [Roman Catholic] which is arguably the largest church in Kano state located across from the Sabon Gari market was reported to be virtually empty. The St Geoorge’s Anglican Church located at the outskirts of Sabon Gari saw less than 20 worshippers in attendance.
The security source told 247ureports.com that the drop in numbers of worshippers is attributed to the ongoing silent exodus of non-muslims out of Kano State. He adds that the BUK bombing accelerated the move out of Kano – more than any other attack that have happened in the past. “Everybody is packing and leaving BUK” said the source who continued to add that the entire non-muslim staff are on their way out of Kano – even the men of the JTF have become somewhat “edgy with the whole situation“.
The leader of Ohaneze Kano, Chief Tobias Idika confirms the same trend of persons evacuating Kano State in panic of additional Boko Haram attack. He stated that the Government of Kano have continued to give the men of Boko Haram cover under the guise of Hisbah Gaurds [Islamic Police]. In his summation of why the problem of Boko Haram continues to linger, he told our correspondent that vast population [including the state government] harbour a veiled sympathy for the men of Boko Haram – and for this reason the people of Kano State have continued to provide food and shelter to the men of Boko Haram. He pointed blame to the government for providing funding to the Islamic Police – and cited the funding of the Hisbah group as a ploy to supporting the terror group. “We are demanding for a state of emergency. These house to house searches by the JTF will not solve the problem. What will solve the problem is for Mr. President to declare a state of emergency” stated the leader of Ohaneze Kano.
The Ohaneze leader in tandem with other leaders of the minority groups in Kano – jointly – told our correspondent that the attacks in Kano against minority groups are aimed at chasing the Christians away from Kano – so as to enable them take over the priced real estates structures erected by non-muslim over the years. They pleaded for Mr.. President to rise to the call and “declare a state of emergency before it becomes to late“.
