Religious Conflict in Jigawa State

UNCLAS ABUJA 002068 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KIRF PHUM NI SUBJECT: Religious Conflict in Jigawa State SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED, NOT FOR PUBLICATION ON THE INTERNET OR INTRANET ¶1. Summary: After a blasphemous remark by a Christian student in the preceding month, local youths in Jigawa State started a protest that led to the burning of several religious structures. Only the quick involvement of local leaders prevented the situation from getting completely out of control. End Summary. ¶2. In Kazaure Local Government Area in Jigawa State sometime in early October, a female Christian student allegedly insulted the prophet Mohammed during an argument with classmates. Tensions slowly simmered over the following month as some Muslims publicly called for punishment of the student. School officials and the local Emir attempted to maintain peace in the area, making public comments that mob rule would not be tolerated. ¶3. On November 18, in the early evening, a group (we still do not know how large) of youths went en masse to the school to demand they be allowed to punish the student themselves. As the protesters arrived at the school, the Emir and anti-riot police came to prevent any kind of mob justice. Unfortunately, one of the policemen discharged his weapon. No one was injured by the shot, but the crowd immediately dispersed and fled the school. ¶4. Some of the youths involved in the protest attempted to keep the protest going by setting fire to the neighborhood. Several houses, and possibly as many as 13 structures used as churches, were burned. The religious buildings were mainly additions to houses that could accommodate up to 20 persons for small church services. Police quickly restored order and the fire was prevented from spreading to other Christian and Muslim areas of the town. ¶5. By the following morning police had restored calm and the state government stepped in to assist by assigning more police to the area. The local police chief held a formal press conference to address the issue, and there has been no recurrence of any disruption of the peace in Kazaure since. ¶6. COMMENT: This cycle of minor incident leading to communal conflict is typical of what is often termed ethno-religious violence in Nigeria. Economic depression, unemployment and dissatisfaction with the government are issues that many Nigerians cannot address directly, and this lack of control over one's life is a wellspring of pent-up rage that can come bubbling to the surface over the smallest slight. Many Nigerians who have nothing else in their life turn to religion for comfort and guidance, and when they perceive their beliefs to be threatened they can quickly lash out as a method for trying to have control over one small aspect of their daily lives. In this instance, at least, local leaders, both religious and secular, tried to maintain the peace from the very beginning. Their involvement is what kept the situation from getting further out of hand. MEECE