The killing campaign of the Islamic Boko Haram sect has taken a dangerous dimension with the recent killing of 13 factory workers identified as Christians because they refused to join in the Muslim evening prayers.
Palpable fear now grips Christians in the northern city of Kano as story of how 13 men were gruesomely murdered at a compound in Sheka, Sharada Phase 111 in Kumbotso Local Government Area last Saturday filter into town.
Already, the Headquarters of Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Abuja has commenced investigations into the gruesome killing.
Bishop Ransom Bello CAN chairman in Kano is perplexed as he revealed the incident to journalists in Kano on Wednesday.
Bishop Bello who is also the General Overseer of Calvary Life Assembly alleged that 13 Christians, all factory workers living in a large compound around Sharada Phase 111 were shot dead by gunmen, who stormed the compound at about 7.30 p.m.
He said the only survivor of the attack, now in hiding, recalled that the gunmen stormed the compound in two taxi cabs and separated the men from the women and children and opened fire on the men, killing the 13 of them on the spot.
Reports of the attack reaching us disclosed that, that fateful Saturday at about 7 pm, Muslim faithful were conducting their prayer close to the affected compound occupied by Christian families, when two taxi cabs stopped in front of the compound and the occupants, who all concealed their arms dashed into the complex and of demanded to know why the residents were not part of the 7 pm Muslim prayer.
They responded by telling the visitors they were Christians and so could not be part of the Muslim gathering, at that point, they separated the men, about of them from their wives and children and shot them dead on the spot after ordering the women and children into their homes.
The 13th victim, who hid in a dark alley in the compound, surrendered himself, following threats by the gunmen to visit the same fate on the women and children if any man was found shielded,Bello stated.
Apparently perturbed, Bishop Bello said he was surprised over the silence of the relevant authorities in the state, including the government on such a high-profile murder, even though we believe it is the handiwork of extremists, who do not see the reason why the Muslim North should accommodate Christians. He noted that the National president of CAN, Pastor Ayo Orisiejefor has been adequately briefed about the incident with a list of the victims, including their state of origin, we have submitted them to CAN headquarters and we have been informed that actions were being taken.
Government should show more concern, like it has always done when Muslims are affected; I have not seen that in the case of Christians, that 13 Christians were killed in one straight attack and nothing is heard from the government reflects selective justice because we are aware of compensation paid to Muslim families in situations of this nature.
The State Commissioner of Police, Musa Daura, confirmed the incident, saying that the Command is doing all within its power to track down perpetrators of the attack, adding that t detectives of the Command have been deployed to nose for clues that will lead to the arrest of possible suspects. He described the incident as unfortunate and embarrassing.