Hoodlums burn church, damage school in Funtua crisis

From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

A Catholic church, was burnt while a private school, Ideal International School, located in Tudun Wada Quarters in Funtua, Katsina state, was partially damaged after a mob attack over alleged blasphemy committed by one of the school teacher.

The state Police Command’s spokesman, DSP Aminu Abubakar Saddiq, who confirmed the incident in a phone interview with our correspondent, noted that the only church burnt during the crisis was a Catholic

Church, St. Rita Catholic Church and a fire thrown on the school by the aggrieved mob destroyed a classroom in the school.

However, Our Correspondent gathered that the crisis has been brewing since Friday last week when some students of the school raised an alarm that an English Language teacher in the school has set a question alleged to be offensive to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and His mother.

It was further gathered that tension in the town continue building over the weekend as some suspected aggrieved mob attempted to burn the school at the weekend, which was quelled by security personnel drafted to guard the school.

Things our correspondent learnt, worsened on Monday morning when some aggrieved mob mobilized to attack the school, which was strongly resisted by the combined team of army and police personnel drafted to the area.

It was similarly gathered that the security personnel were able to disperse the mob that started erecting bonfires along major roads in the town. The situation was calm as at the time of filing this report.

The district head of Funtua, Alhaji Idris Sambo Idris and some community leaders were seen going round the town calming people to eschew violence and allow peace to reign, as according to them, government was trying to address the issues.