Nigeria: Christian teacher killed in Kano State
Dec 11 2007
Postings >> Nigeria

A Christian teacher and father of 11 was killed when local elections sparked a fresh outbreak of religious violence in the northern Sharia state of Kano.

Danyaro Bala was stabbed and his body burned when Muslim youths went on the rampage in Gani mission, a Christian settlement in the Sumaila area. They were furious when news came through that a Christian candidate was ahead in the polls.

Several other Christians were injured and many Christian-owned houses and shops were wrecked. Order was restored only when the military moved in.

RI’s partner the Stefanos Foundation reports that Danyaro, a church elder, had been trying to calm the mob when they turned on him. Stefanos also reports that a Muslim, dismayed by the violence, opened fire on the mob, killing a fellow Muslim.

Sani Duma, Danyaro's brother, believes the attack was an attempt to force Christians to submit to Islam. ‘The selection of only houses of Christians and their shops for destruction shows clearly that Muslims were out to force us into submitting to their hold on political leadership,' Sani told Compass Direct.

The All Nigeria People's Party, who rule the state and introduced Sharia law there in 2000, reportedly won the local Sumaila election. All voters in the area are from the Hausa tribe.

Meanwhile, a committee investigating violence in Tundun Wada, Kano, in September (7x7, October 16, 2007) has reported only three deaths in its interim report to state authorities. The committee, made up of nine Muslims and three Christians, learnt at public hearings that 19 Christians were killed in the riots. A committee member told Compass Direct that protests by the three Christian officials about the statistics had been overruled.

• Pray for the friends and family of Danyaro Bala, killed in the Gani riot.
• Pray for a restoration of calm between faith groups in this troubled Sharia state.