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).

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CLASH ERUPTS IN BAUCHI
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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.

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COMMENT
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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