By; Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri.
Having seen the rising tension created by the killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto State for alleged blasphemy, Borno State Police Command, engaged critical stakeholders in a peace building dialogue at the commands headquarters in Maiduguri to forestall any unrest that might disrupt the peace of the already ravaged state of the North-East.
Addressing the gathering, the Police Commissioner, Abdu Umar said that intelligence report indicated that certain elements were already gearing up for a showdown in the city in reaction to the Sokoto incident but that police personnel, along with other security agencies like the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Department of the State Security Services ( DSS), and the military, deployed to maintain decorum.
He said this meeting with critical stakeholders and all religious leaders in the state followed after meeting with the Deputy Governor, Umar Kadafur, who direct him to call on leaders of the two major religions in the state to speak with their followers on the need to maintain peace and safety in the midst of security challenges confronting Sokoto and threats of retaliation in some states.
The Police Commissioner reiterated that in the past 12 years, Borno state have suffered a lot with security challenges. He also said they have not only engaged the religious leaders, the police and other security agencies, since the unrest started in Sokoto, but deployed personnel across the state capital and also stepped up surveillance.
He stressed that in the case of any eventuality, they are also going to embark on a show of force from Sunday to alert residents that the securities agents are active, on red alert, and battle-ready to pounce on anybody that will want to attempt to disturb public peace across Borno State.
On his part, the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN Chairman Borno State chapter, Bishop Mohammed Naga, during the meeting assured that Christian leaders in the state have captioned their members to exercise patience and not take any laws into their hands.
Naga said already letters were sent to all the pastors across the state telling them to inform their members that they dont want any reaction from them and they should go about their normal activities without any fear of attack.
Also speaking, Sheikh Muhammad Arabi Abulfathi who spoke on behalf of the Chief Imam Laisu Ibrahim Ahmad, charged Borno residents to desist from the temptation of commenting on religious posts on social media as those comments are the root causes of the crises and those comments could be inciting and harmful to others which could lead to violent reactions among the public.
Those who attended the meeting include the representatives of the Nigerian Army, DSS, NSCDC, Borno State Government, Christian and Muslim religious leaders.
