ISLAMIC SECT CLASHES WITH SECURITY FORCES IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002344 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA; E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL KISL PHUM NI SUBJECT: ISLAMIC SECT CLASHES WITH SECURITY FORCES IN NIGERIA'S BAUCHI STATE Classified By: Political Counselor James P. McAnulty for reasons in sections 1.4 (b) and (d). -------------- CLASH ERUPTS IN BAUCHI -------------- ¶1. (SBU) A clash in Zango, Bauchi State, between members of an Islamic sect and Nigerian security forces resulted in an estimated 20 to 30 deaths and the destruction of several houses, according to contacts and the local press. Members of the sect, known as "Maitatsine" but also called "Kala Kato" by outsiders, advocate strict adherence to the Koran, rejecting secondary source interpretations. Sect members live in urban and rural areas throughout northern Nigeria. Islamic scholar Mohammed Marwa, originally from Cameroon, led the sect after settling in Kano but died in a clash with police in 1980. Sect uprisings in 1980 in Kano, in 1984 in Yola, in 1985 in Gombe, and again in 1992 in Yola reportedly claimed thousands of lives. ¶2. (SBU) The latest outbreak of violence began after local residents expressed concern to authorities about aggressive, open-air preaching by "Kala Kato" members, who questioned a crack down by security forces on "Boko Haram" members in July and ridiculed others, possibly including members of their own sect, calling them "infidels." Security personnel responded to the scene and quelled the violence. Bauchi State Police Chief Aikur Kafur told journalists that security officials had arrested 20 individuals, including nine adults and 11 juveniles. Kafur claimed that security forces had killed the sect's leader, Mallam Badamasi, and recovered "bomb-making tools and explosives." ¶3. (C) Bauchi State Information Commissioner Captain Bala Jibrin Mohammed told Political Specialist December 29 that authorities had confined the violence to the Bauchi sub-division of Zango. He confirmed that at least one soldier had died during the clash, but acknowledged that he could not confirm the overall number of deaths as he had not personally visited the morgue. He estimated that some 20 to 30 deaths may have resulted, while press reports claimed up to 38 fatalities, including children. Mohammed remarked that the fighting lasted no more than three hours, and that calm has now returned to the area. ¶4. (C) Other Bauchi residents concurred with this assessment, noting that authorities had refrained from declaring a curfew and had encouraged residents, including business owners, to resume normal activities. Mohammed and other local residents alleged that the "Kala Kato" sect experienced an internal dispute, which caused local sect leader Mallam Badamasi to visit Zango to preach against those who challenged his authority. Both the soldier and Badamasi reportedly died after a clash erupted between the sect and responding security forces. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (C) The circumstances of the reported death of Badamasi remain unclear, including whether security forces had detained him at some point in their engagement. Thus far, the violence has not spread to other areas or involved the targeting of other religious groups. We will continue to monitor developments. SANDERS