Zulum Visits Pastor Whose Son was Killed in Church Demolition Saga

The Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has visited the family of Pastor Bitrus Tumba whose son died in reaction to an attempted demolition of a branch of EYN Church in Maiduguri on August 5, 2021, by the Borno Geographic System (BOGIS).

Worshippers at the church were alleged to have attempted to stop a task force by BOGIS from demolishing their worship centre but their action was suppressed by security men in the demolition team who shot bullets that killed the pastor’s son and injured several others.

The Christian community in the state subsequently took the case up with the governor and staged protest against what they alleged was a persecution of their faith.

Zulum, who had earlier sent his deputy governor to the family of the deceased, in order to appease the family and the entire Christian community in the state and douse the tension, personally on Tuesday night paid a visit to Pastor Tumba where he was received by the family and some officials of Christians Association of Nigeria, CAN, led by the association’s chairman, Bishop Mohammed Naga.

The governor had apart from sending the Borno State Deputy Governor, Mr. Usman Kadafur, to the deceased family had also met with Christian leaders in the state and directed the police to thoroughly investigate the incident and report to him.

Zulum addressed his host and said: “Let me start by apologising for delaying my visit even though I had sent a delegation to explain this to you. We deliberately delayed because of the tension in town. We thought it was not a good time to pay you a visit then. I am here to commiserate with your family over the unfortunate death of our brother, Ezekiel Bitrus.