So far the exact toll from the latest bout of religious rioting in northern Nigeria is not clear. At least 150 have died and the toll may well go higher.
The killings are bad enough, but the north has experienced much worse within living memory. One of the bloodiest outbreaks of religious rioting occurred in Kano in 1980, and northern cities saw a series of upheavals during the decade that followed.
The Kano riots, led by Muhammadu Marwa, a Muslim preacher otherwise known as “Maitatsine”, were put down by the army.
Reporting nearly 30 years ago on the Kano disturbances, Lagos Radio quoted the then defence minister, Iya Abubakar, as saying: “The armed forces have successfully dislodged religious fanatics from areas occupied by them in Kano.
“Hostages captured by the fanatics have been set free and are being kept by the infantry brigade in Kano.”
At the time, the death toll from 10 days of rioting was put at 1,000. Nearly a year later the government-controlled Daily Times said it was in fact 4,177.
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This is evil,Why can’t this people accept Jesus and see the joy of cohabiting !…….. This is a shame to Nigeria
- Posted by EmmanuelParallels between Boko Haram and Maitatsine are worrying not only because of how violent the Maitatsine riots were, but also because they lasted for years even after Maitatsine himself was killed. That means even if Nigerian forces kill Boko Haram leader Mohammed Yusuf, his movement may keep on fighting without him.
- Posted by Alex ThurstonIt is difficult to model whether these are but unconnected Blips on the Monitor or the message is something more. We have MEND, now we have Boko Haram. Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall apart which was derived from Yeats resonates
The Second Coming
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
Aly-Khan Satchu
- Posted by Aly-Khan Satchuhttp://www.rich.co.ke
Twitter alykhansatchu
I believe there is more behind d scene of Boko Haram. why are university products always radical on govt? why even the academics are radical and very harsh on govt? why radical religious clericks attacks govt? how can ordinary group like boko haram thinks it can attack authority? what is d source of their courage, confidence and their weapons? are their damage as deathly as that of niger deltans whom government pampers like a baby? why did government kills d leader brutally without allowing him to speak to the world? what are they hiding,covering and protecting? yar adua use to be slow in approaches of issues, how manage he swung into such a speedy action.SUPPOSING the group made their moves on ideology not confrontation dont u think their impact could have been heard by most minds? THERE ARE MORE BEHIND D SCENE!!! boko haram u are wrong, but what makes them wrong?
- Posted by musa sanilibelous information…you know what this is about..i was there during the maitatsine uprisings…kill a person because one does not conform to ones ideals…of the one true religion..nothing more nothing less..kill an unbeliever get killed then go to paradise..On the pretext off insulting ideological beliefs,and customs.The next leader will just have to talk with zeal to get the movement going again…of course he will be right on some issues or more.But not to be educated??..feed on the ignorance of others.I wonder how my mates at BARREWA collage ZARIA Class 82. feel about this.Even then the division could be felt..
- Posted by joel feliciano