The Center for Justice on Religious and Ethnicity in Nigeria (CJREN) has levied allegations against Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, accusing him of deliberately omitting Christians from the Federal Government’s palliatives distributed to citizens and residents in the state.
Reverend Kallamu Dikwa, the Director-General of CJREN, made these claims, asserting that Christians are consistently left out of aid initiatives, including the recent N3 billion donation from President Bola Tinubu to assist those affected by Boko Haram and other terrorist activities in the state.
In a press release shared with SaharaReporters, Dikwa stated, “Any assistance that came to the citizens of the state from the federal government, Christians in the state are always excluded, such as palliative.”
He highlighted President Tinubu’s recent visit to Maiduguri, where he alleged that Christians were excluded from the data capturing process for the N3 billion aid designated for victims of insurgency.
Dikwa further raised concerns about the Christian community in Gwoza Local Government Area, asserting that those in IDP camps have not been able to return home, unlike their Muslim counterparts.
He also brought attention to the alleged demolition of EYN-Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, Moduganari in Maiduguri, last year by Governor Zulum, claiming it resulted in the unjust killing of a pastor’s son.
Accusing Governor Zulum of giving a demolition order to the same church, Dikwa warned of potential unrest, stating, “On this note, we clearly wish to inform the national CAN, the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to know that any breach of peace in Borno state is a handwork of the current Governor, Babagana Umara Zullum.”
As of now, the Borno State government has not officially responded to the press release issued by Dikwa regarding the alleged neglect of Christians in certain communities.
