IMAM ATTACKED BY WORSHIPPERS AT KADUNA MOSQUE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001057 SIPDIS SIPDIS DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/24/2017 TAGS: PGOV KDEM KISL NI ELECTIONS SUBJECT: IMAM ATTACKED BY WORSHIPPERS AT KADUNA MOSQUE Classified By: Political Counselor Russell J. Hanks for reasons 1.4. (b & d). ¶1. (U) BBC radio reported that the Imam at the Suleiman Bello Mosque in Kaduna, one of the city's prominent mosques, was attacked and beaten by worshippers at the Friday prayers on May 18. ¶2. (C) A contact from Kaduna who was at the mosque described the incident to PolCouns as politically motivated. He claimed that during the Friday service, the Imam had made repeated comments about the "need for Nigeria to move ahead" after the recent contentious elections. As the Imam made his comments, the contact said, the gathered worshippers continuously hissed at the Imam and expressed their displeasure over the message. The incident came to a head at the end of the sermon when the Imam called on the group to "pray for Yar'adua and his incoming government." According to the contact as many as 200 worshippers, primarily middle age and older, began "thrashing" the Imam. Some in the congregation intervened and the Imam was taken to a hospital for treatment. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: While the streets of Nigeria appear quiet and there are few outward signs of tension resulting from the April events, sporadic incidents such as this one continue throughout the country. With political watchers on edge over the launching of elections tribunals and the upcoming swearing-in ceremony in Abuja, spontaneous actions can be expected to continue over the next several weeks. CAMPBELL