EGN NEWS DESK
Muslims burned down a church constructing within the early hours of August 10 in central Nigeria’s Niger state, sources mentioned.
The razing of the constructing of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) congregation in Kontagora city at about 3 a.m. was the second time Muslims have destroyed the worship auditorium on the website, mentioned Associate Pastor Samson Ogbebor.
“I obtained a misery name that our church was on hearth, and on getting there I met a church being burned down and properties therein looted by hoodlums,” Pastor Ogbebor informed Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “This church has confronted plenty of challenges – about 10 years in the past, some Muslim hoodlums got here and burnt it down utterly, and thru self-efforts we had been capable of rebuild the worship sanctuary.”
Muslims in Kontagora had made a number of unsuccessful makes an attempt to stop the congregation from setting up the worship auditorium, he mentioned.
“We ultimately accomplished the constructing of the church constructing, however they haven’t relented of their opposition to permitting us as Christians to have a spot of worship within the city,” Pastor Ogbebor mentioned. “For a second time they’ve burnt down the sanctuary.”
Church member Markus Emmanuel mentioned he rushed to the location after receiving a name concerning the hearth on the Champion Parish, Kontagora city.
“The constructing was utterly razed by hearth,” Emmanuel informed Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “Some residents near the church constructing informed us that they noticed a bunch of Muslims who got here into the church premises and set hearth on the constructing.”
Emmanuel mentioned the constructing was nonetheless underneath development when it was burned 10 years in the past.
“This is the second time our worship sanctuary has been destroyed, as 10 years again, a bunch of Muslim fanatics who had been against the church constructing being constructed at that website set hearth on it, earlier than the worship constructing was reconstructed,” he mentioned.
Church deacon John Aboje known as on Muslim leaders within the city to take measures towards preserving non secular freedom of Christians within the predominantly Muslim Kontagora Local Government Area.
“We simply need to plead with the state authorities and the Kontagora Muslim emirate to look into the problem by compelling the perpetrators to permit freedom of worship,” Aboje mentioned.
The Rev. Bulus Dauda Yohanna, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State Chapter, confirmed the destruction of the worship auditorium in an announcement issued on Saturday (Aug. 10).
“The destruction of the RCCG worship constructing is just not solely barbaric and unwarranted, but additionally a really painful expertise to the Christian group in Kontagora city,” Yohanna mentioned. “There’s the necessity for presidency officers in Kontagora to take strict measures in direction of placing an finish to such ungodly actions of fanatics. This incident has created non secular rigidity.”
Christians had been hoping that the regulation would take its course, he mentioned.
“To be frank, points like this should be tamed, and individuals who have finished this must be fished out and made to face the regulation,” Yohanna mentioned.
Aisha Wakaso, media assist to Gov. Mohammed Bago, mentioned in an announcement that the governor condemned the destruction of the church constructing.
“We completely condemn this act and inform our Christian brothers and sisters, in addition to different Niger state inhabitants, that the federal government prioritizes their security, safety, and freedom of faith,” Wakaso mentioned. “Our state makes use of its variety and the peaceable coexistence of all non secular and ethnic teams. We is not going to condone this silly act of violence.”
The governor has requested that each one related safety businesses conduct a direct and full inquiry into the assault, he mentioned.
“We are satisfied that the perpetrators of this horrible arson might be rapidly found and prosecuted,” Wakaso mentioned. “The administration will see that these concerned are punished to the fullest extent of the regulation. We urge the individuals of Kontagora and Niger state to be calm and chorus from revenge or violence. Let us proceed to collaborate to protect the peace and togetherness that outline our magnificent nation.”
In the 2024 WWL of the international locations the place it’s most troublesome to be a Christian, Nigeria was ranked No. 6, because it was within the earlier 12 months. Nigeria remained the deadliest place on the planet to observe Christ, with 4,118 individuals killed for his or her religion from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023, in accordance with Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List (WWL) report. More kidnappings of Christians than in every other nation additionally happened in Nigeria, with 3,300.
Nigeria was additionally the third highest nation in variety of assaults on church buildings and different Christian buildings resembling hospitals, colleges, and cemeteries, with 750, in accordance with the report.
© 2024 Christian Daily International-Morning Star News
