Reverend Abraham Damina Dumus, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Bauchi State made several claims including the persecution of Christians living in the state.
Reverend Dumus who is also a Baptist pastor, made the claims in his interview with Morning Star News, a news platform that majorly focuses on persecution of Christians across the world.
The interview was further amplified by other pro-Christians news platforms as seen here, here and here.
Reverend Dumus’ claims paint a picture of systematic oppression, violence, and marginalisation of Christians by Muslims in Bauchi State. However, WikkiTimes fact-checked these claims and found that many of them were either exaggerated or misleading.
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In this report, WikkiTimes’ fact-checkers present a detailed analysis of Reverend Dumus’ claims and contrast them with the on-the-ground findings and open source data including satellite images.
CLAIM 1: Continuous Bloodletting by “Muslim Terrorists” in Tafawa Balewa
Reverend Dumus in the interview claimed that there has been continuous bloodletting by “Muslim terrorists’ ‘ targeting Christians in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area since 1991.
“The persecution of Christians in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area has remained a thorn in their flesh up to this very moment as I speak to you,” Pastor Dumas was quoted saying, adding,“from 1991 to date, there has been continuous bloodletting by Muslim terrorists targeted at Christians in that area.”
Findings:
Contrary to the cleric’s claim, findings by WikkiTimes revealed that Tafawa Balewa has suffered a series of ethno-religious crises affecting both the Muslims and Christians..
A professor of education, Salisu Shehu who has been documenting the episodes of the conflict, wrote that ethno-religious conflict erupted on June 18, 2001, in Tafawa Balewa, resulting in massive loss of valuable properties and the deaths of over 100 people, mostly Muslims.
According to him, the 2001 incident was the fourth “in the series of premeditated aggressions against Muslims by their Christian neighbours.”
The 2001 crisis followed attacks on Muslims in Tafawa Balewa, in a protest over the implementation of Sharia law which does not apply to the Christians. The violence claimed over 300 lives.
Similar scenarios were recorded in 1991, 1993, and 1995.
Sani Musa, a displaced victim, now residing at Mararaban Liman Katagum in Bauchi, recounted how the 2001 crisis led to the loss of his two brothers, Ahmad and Yusuf.
“Christian youths attacked our village, setting fire to homes and destroying mosques. My family house was among those burned down in Tafawa Balewa town, and in the chaos, my brothers were killed,” he said.
The crisis did not spare the Christians, according to Ayuba Maimako, a resident of Tafawa Balewa. “We lost our family house to the crisis,” he recalled.
“Nothing is good as peace, we want peace. We were with them (Muslims) like brothers and sisters before the devil destroyed that cordial relationship,” he added.
A research work published in 2020 noted that the conflict started as a tussle over ownership of the town between Sayawa Christains and Hausa/Fulani Muslims.
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The continuous resurgences of the conflict led to the violent eviction of Muslims from the local government area by the Sayawa Christian militia. This would later force the state government to relocate the council’s headquarters to the neighbouring Bununu community in 2012.
Evidence gathered by WikkiTimes through on-the-ground reporting and analysis of satellite images on Google Earth proved that the Muslim communities were targeted justn like the Christian communities.
WikkiTimes reporters visited Tafawa Balewa on July 8, and discovered that there were no major mosques left in the community.
In the days before the conflicts, there were several mosques located in different places in Tafawa Balewa — many of them destroyed by the Sayawa Christian militia. WikkiTimes’ findings were corroborated by pictorial evidence obtained from the area.
In addition, Google satellite images of the area visibly showed a number of churches without any identifiable mosque in the area.
The two major mosques in the town were razed over a decade ago when the worshippers were evicted from the community.
WikkiTimes also gathered that Muslims worship activities like call to prayer, congregation, Jumu’ah and Eid prayers among others have not been observed in Tafawa Balewa for the past 12 years. This further indicates the absence of the Muslim community in the area.
“No, nothing like the mosque inside Tafawa Balewa presently. I was one of the officials of Darika mosque (the central mosque) in the town. They were all destroyed,” Musa, one of the displaced victims, told WikkiTimes.
Satellite images showing destroyed Izala Mosque along Bununu Road, Tafawa Balewa
Verdict
Therefore, Reverend Dumus’ claim about the persecution of Christians by “Muslim terrorists” in Tafawa Balewa is misleading
Evidence gathered by WikkiTimes shows that attacks were carried out by the two religious groups.
CLAIM 2: Christians in Northern Bauchi State Saw Their Homes and Church Buildings Burned Down
Reverend Dumus also claimed that Christians in northern Bauchi State, specifically in areas such as Azare, Misau, Danbam, Giade, and Zaki were targeted.
He claimed that their houses and church buildings were razed, adding that many Christians were killed in these communities.
“In the southern part of Bauchi state, in places like Bauchi, Tafawa Balewa, and the rest, the situation was nasty and ugly to the church,” Reverend Dumus said. “It was like the church was going into extinction as there were clear signs that Christians were not going to exist in Bauchi state.”
Findings:
There is no evidence that Christians were targeted in these areas. Notably, the only violence that rocked northern Bauchi was the post election violence in 2011.
Scores of people were killed and houses were razed during the 2011 crisis. The election favoured former president Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from the South who defeated his rival, Muhammadu Buahri, a retired general who later won presidential election twice and ruled Nigeria for eight years.
While the 2011 crisis was not peculiar to Bauchi alone, both Muslims and Christians were victimised, according to Human Rights Watch.
Contrary to Reverend Dumus’ claims, there is an ECWA church in Tashan Mass, Misau, Bauchi State. The worship center remains intact and has never been targeted, WikkiTikmes confirmed..
Christians in Misau are not victimised or denied the privilege to own properties or engage in commercial activities. For instance, Madam Sonia Babajika owns and operates the Babajika Brighter Day Care, Nursery, Primary, and Secondary School in Misau without any form of victimisation over the years.
In Azare, findings showed that there are Christians who live and own business in the town, particularly in the central market. They also operate private schools, hotels and workshops without any form of victimisation.
According to publicly available data, KTG Guest Inn in Azare is owned by one Balani Richard, a Christian. Also, a businessman, Andy Uzoigwe, owns and manages the Royal Guest Inn in Azare.
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In Warji, Christians, appointed by Muslim administrators, hold key positions in local government departments. For example, the Directors of Health, Finance, and ESD in Warji LGA are Christians.
These findings show that Christians and Muslims coexist with occasional conflicts rather than systematic persecution as claimed by Reverend Dumus.
Verdict
The claim by the Cleric is not supported by evidence. In areas like Misau, Christians live without being discriminated against over property rights. The ECWA church in Tashan Mass, a central area of Misau, remains intact and has never been targeted.
Similarly, in Giade, Azare, Dambam, and Zaki, Christians have not been subjected to targeted attacks or discrimination. They freely own businesses and property, and operate private schools and hotels.
In Warji LGA, Christians even hold significant government positions, contradicting the narrative of systematic persecution made by Reverend Dumus.
CLAIM 3: Christians Forced Out of Bauchi City Center
The cleric claimed that Christians were driven out of the Bauchi City centre due to persecution by Muslim officials and now live far from their worship sites.
“Christians who were living inside the old city as tenants were chased out by Muslims,” he claimed. “They had to move out and live in [sic] the outskirts.”
Findings
Christians dominate ownership of businesses including spare parts market and electronics shops in Bakin Kura, near the Emir’s palace. Many Christians also own stores in Wunti Market, one of the largest markets in Bauchi.
“In all my time here, I’ve never felt any bias or exclusion. We live and work together harmoniously,” Atikwe Emmanuel, a tyre dealer in Bauchi city told WikkiTimes when asked whether he feels threatened living in the city.
Also, there are many houses owned and occupied by Christians in areas around Muda Lawal and Wunti Markets, where they also run businesses and churches.
Satellite images of Bauchi city on Google Earth show that at least 10 churches including St John’s Catholic Cathedral, Mountain of Fire Miracle Ministries, ECWA and St Paul’s Anglican among others.
Verdict
The claim that Christians were driven out of Bauchi city due to persecution is inaccurate and misleading. The presence of Christian-owned businesses and residences in central areas negates this claim.
Other Christians including pastors in Bauchi State who spoke to WikiTimes disagreed with Reverend Dumas over the persecution claims he made.
“I have been in Bauchi since 1991,” Emeka Anyabwike, a Christian who has been selling ladies’ wear in Winti Market said. “Some offenses depend on the person you are dealing with, but honestly, we are living here (Bauchi) like brothers and sisters.”
Despite its Muslim majority population, Joshua Tsammani, a resident of Fadamar Mada in Bauchi, commended religious tolerance among residents of the city.
“In Bauchi, you will see Muslims going to the mosque and Christians attending their churches in harmony and without intimidation. I can assure you that Bauchi is one of the safest states regarding religious tolerance,” he said.
He contrasts this with the Plateau State, where religious conflicts keep resurfacing.
“There have been no instances of Muslim communities attacking Christians in Bauchi. This reflects the love and peaceful environment in the state,” Tsammani told WikiTimes, comparing the state with the ethno-religious conflict-ridden Plateau State.
Lydia John Bala, a resident of Dass Park, acknowledges some social issues but commended the overall peaceful coexistence.
“Apart from some social vices such as Sara Suka and phone snatching, there is little to be concerned about regarding peaceful coexistence in Bauchi,” she said.
CLAIM 4: Boko Haram Attacked Almost All Churches in Bauchi City
Reverend Dumas claimed that Boko Haram bombed almost all churches in Bauchi city between 2009 and 2012.
“In three years, 2009-2012, Boko Haram terrorists bombed almost all the churches in Bauchi city,” he told Morning Star News. “Christians’ worship places were bombed on Sundays as Christians gathered for worship services. It was from here in Bauchi that the Boko Haram attacks spread to Maiduguri in Borno state. In these massive attacks against Christians, my house was burned down by the terrorists. Many houses belonging to Christians were also burned down during these attacks.”
Findings:
The Boko Haram insurgents target both Christians and Muslims, the terror group’s violence campaign in the north east proved this.
Although they bombed some churches in Bauchi State, the group also targeted some Islamic clerics in the state including Isah Pantami, a former minister under the administration of president Muhammadu Buhari.
At least, six churches were bombed by suspected Boko Haram terrorists, according to media reports seen here, here, here and here.
All these attacks were carried out in 2012 and claimed at least 20 lives.
However, there were instances that Christains were caught staging some of these attacks in Bauchi State.
In February 2012, nine christians bombers were apprehended when they planned to bomb a COCIN church at Miya Barkate, 20 kilometres along Jos-Bauchi Highway in Bauchi State.
The suspects, according to reports, were members of the same COCIN church, Unguwar Rimi, a new and small Christian settlement between Tilden Fulani and Shere Hills.
The suspects were identified as Lamba Goma, Filibus Danasa, Joshua Ali, Danjuma Sabo, Joseph Audu, Simon Gabriel, Bulus Haruna, Yohanna Ishaya and Daniel Ayub, a former secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Tilden Fulani Ward, Toro LGA, Bauchi State.
At about the time they were arrested, a bomb explosion was reported at the headquarters of the same COCIN church during a Sunday service.
Also, one Victor Moses was among four suspected Boko Haram spies arrested by military operatives in Bauchi in 2016.
Moses was arrested when he went to a mosque in Bauchi and pretended that he wanted to be converted to Islam, according to the military.
Suspecting that he was not genuine, the members of the mosque reported the matter, leading to his arrest.
Verdict
The Boko Haram insurgency targets both Christians and Muslims who do not subscribe to jihadi perspective and support secular governments.
The claim that almost all the churches in Bauchi city were bombed by Boko Haram is false. Also, of the few churches bombed by the group, Christians were also found to be responsible.
CLAIM 5: Christians are targeted in Yelwa crisis
“Anytime these Muslims are provoked by events occurring elsewhere, Christians living in the suburbs become their targets of attacks,” Pastor Dumas said.
“For instance, the Yelwa area, a Christians suburb where Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University and the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, are located, is readily attacked by Muslims any time they feel provoked by events occurring elsewhere, even when they know that Christians in Bauchi state have nothing to do with such events. These areas have been attacked numerous times over the years.”
Findings:
The latest conflict in Yelwa was instigated by hoodlums, although a religious clash occurred in the area in December 2007 over the construction of a mosque.
In 2018, cultists killed a Christian youth and the Christian community in the area blamed his death on their Muslim neighbours.
Several clashes were subsequently recorded in the area, but the police repeatedly blamed it on clashes between rival criminal groups as seen here and here.
Verdict
Yelwa is inhabited by Chrsitains and Muslisms and the community has recorded a series of conflicts instigated by hoodlums targeting members of the community irrespective of their religion.
General Verdict
Rev. Abraham Damina Dumus’s claims about the persecution of Christians in Bauchi state are largely unsubstantiated. His colleague, Reverend Pam Chollom of COCIN in Wuntin Dada contradicted him, saying: “Christians indeed are experiencing progress because there is no such thing as discrimination.”
He, however, noted the allegation of denial of land allocation for church building in the state, but added that such issues are not prevalent, particularly within Bauchi City.
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The pastor also praised the Emir of Bauchi for his commitment to peaceful coexistence and commended the state government for his efforts in ensuring security and unbiased governance.
Similarly, Reverend Gbenga Alade Adeniji who has been living in Misua for over 14 years, described the claims made by the CAN chairman as “untrue.”
“Christians in Misau have not had any problem,” Adeniji said.
This fact-check was jointly produced by Victoria Ogechukwu, Babaji Usman, Yawale Adamu and Idris Kamal Ibrahim.
This fact-check is produced with support from the Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) under the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development Inclusivity and Accountability Project (CMEDIA) and funded by MacArthur Foundation.
