Three die in Bauchi birthday celebration

Three persons have been confirmed dead while eight others were injured during a bloody birthday celebration in Bauchi metropolis on Sunday night. Also, two houses were set ablaze.

The birthday party was held at Lushi, Yelwa area of the capital city of Bauchi. According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Kamal Datti Abubakar, the command has arrested 76 suspects in connection with the crisis.

Kamal said the violence was triggered by misunderstanding at the birthday party, which later escalated to other parts of the area.

A resident in the area told The Guardian the fighting started at about 10:00p.m.

“My neighbour was stabbed all over his body and rushed to a hospital where he was confirmed dead on arrival. This is an old man who was not part of any party or violence. Another man, an immigration officer, was also killed,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the residents of Gwallameji, Yelwa, Kagadama Lushi, Kusu and High Tension, the host communities for Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Federal Polytechnic and College of Agriculture in Bauchi have expressed sadness over the unending cult clashes and religious/tribal crises resulting in the loss of lives and property in the area.

The residents alleged that the police stormed the area and were breaking into houses to make arbitrary arrests. This has made women in the community to stage a peaceful protest demanding the release of the arrested persons, claiming they are innocents.

Reacting to the arbitrary arrest of residents, Kamal said: “We were able to arrest 75 people in connection with the crisis. We had to make such arrests in order to forestall further break down of law and order.

“Youths gathered at the birthday celebration area, it can be indiscriminate arrest, but anybody that has connection with that incident were the people we arrested. Two houses were also burnt in the incident.”

He said the situation has been brought under control and that investigation was ongoing to get to the root of the crisis. The PPRO assured that those involved would be brought to book.

Two months ago, there was a similar crisis in the Yelwa area after suspected cult members stabbed a young man to death while two houses were also burnt.