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Recaptured communities hit by killings, religious disharmony

There is rising tension of religious disharmony in communities recaptured by the Nigeria Military as residents keep killing one another in suspicion of being members of Boko Haram.

Boko Haram

With the military efforts which have led to the recapture of some communities in Adamawa, there is still religious distrust in Mubi, Michika, Hong and Maiha communities.

“The growing general threats due to the effects of the Boko Haram insurgency in Adamawa state is that of distrust and suspicion among the returnees,” Musa Bala told Pulse.

In some of the liberated communities especially Michika, some of the returnees have been tagged Boko Haram members by neighbours.

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Aliyu Adamu, a resident of Michika has blamed the incident to bad governance. “Michika is sitting on a time bomb,” Aliyu said adding that, “if something urgent is not done, this time bomb might exploit any moment.”

“Whether you are a Christian or a Muslim, we are all Nigerians,” he added.

"At least all communities have been captured from the control of Boko Haram. We are happy that our communities have been liberated. What is left now is a social problem which could be more dangerous than the Boko Haram crises," another resident Emmanuel Ayuba told Pulse.

"As am talking to you, there is a tense enmity between Michika Muslims and Christians who are now shifting blames to each other. They are now accusing themselves of bringing Boko Haram to the community.”

“Innocent people suspected to have joined the Boko Haram group are being killed daily. The community market has been dived along religious line,” another resident of the area, Umar Musa said.

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Religious leaders in Adamawa are not happy with the development as innocent youth have been killed for being members of Boko Haram.

President of  Ekkilisiyar Yan Uwa a Nigeria (EYN) also known as Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, Rev Joel Billy, said authorities must encouraged residents to see the need to live in peace with one another.

Rev Billy, who is also the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the area, added that many people returned to Michika after the Nigeria Military declared the area a safe place only to discover a ruined town.

“Nothing is working,” he said. “We don't have electricity, no water and our health system is second to none," Billy added.

The Chief Imam of Michika Mosque, Mallam Iya Abubakar, who acknowledged that the area has been divided along religious lines, added that it was not like that in the past.

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“The weekly market that used to be one day for all has now been divided to two days due to distrust and suspicion among returnees,” Abubakar said.

"The market does not belong to any tribe or religion. The market is for everyone that wants to buy or sell. Government must not allow this to continue," he added.

The Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) Chairman in Adamawa State, Bishop Mike Moses, said the Michika incident is worrying.

The Bishop said recaptured towns like Mubi, Michika, Hong, Maiha still suffer from skeleton services in Banks and telecommunication.

He called on both Christians and Muslims to cultivate the habit of tolerance and appreciate their religious thoughts.

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