No fewer than three churches were burnt down on Wednesday evening by irrate youths in Dutse, the Jigawa state capital following a magistrate's ruling in a case between a church and an indigene of the area.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that violence erupted at about 6.30 pm as the youths who carried petrol in Jerry cans and plastic materials attacked Christian worship centres in the town.
Some of the churches razed include The Redeemed Christian Church, Calvary Church, and Living Faith Church, as well as a hotel, the Inland Guest Palace Hotel in Dutse.
NAN reports that the case had been before a Dutse magistrate after one Alhaji Ibrahim Adamu had, two years ago, accused the Living Faith Church of disturbing the neighbourhood by its activities.
The church, however, claimed that Adamu had connived with others to steal valuable property from the church.
In its ruling on Wednesday, the court ordered Adamu to be remanded in prison custody, after which the youths began the rampage.
The NAN also reports that the rampaging youths, who took to the streets, sent Christian families in the Dutse metropolis to seek refuge at the state police command headquarters, but the situation was brought under control as armed policemen were drafted to patrol the town to restore peace.
Deputy Police Commissioner, Mr Haz Iwendi, confirmed the incident, but said that no lives were lost in the crisis, adding that the police had taken control of the situation.
The state's commissioner of police, Alhaji Sale Abubakar confirmed the incident and also said no life had been lost in the crisis, adding that the police had not made any arrest.
He told Daily Trust that normalcy had since returned to the state capital as the police had taken all necessary measures to ensure security of lives and property.