Barely one week after an attack on a branch of Living Faith Church
popularly called Winners Chapel in Giwa, Headquarters of Giwa Local
Government Area of Kaduna State by two unidentified arsonists, the
Baptist Church at Gidan Maso village in Rogo Local Government Area of
Kano State has been set ablaze and the residence of the Pastor, Rev
Habila Garba, burnt by irate youths.
During the incident which happened on April 1 at about 7:30 pm, one of
the Pastor's daughters died of suffocation and most parts of the house
destroyed as a result of the fire.
The President of "Tarayyar Masihiyawan Nijeria" (Hausa, Fulani and
Kanuri Christians), General Ishaku Ahmed Dikko (retd), told journalists
on Tuesday in Abuja that the intention was to kill one youth, Yahaya
Joshua, who converted to Islam but later on reverted back to
Christianity.
Full statement of General Dikko entitled: "Another church torched Again"...
The Baptist Church at GIDAN MASO village of Rogo LGA in Kano State was
set on fire by youths of the Village on 01 April, 2015 at about 7:30 pm.
The Church and all the properties were burnt down in the presence of
the Christian Community despite all pleadings for them to stop the
destruction. The arsonists gathered cornstalks and put inside the Church
in order to cause greater damage. This made the action to seem
deliberate and for ulterior motives.
The Christians present exhibited great Christian qualities by not taking
the law into their hands by trying to stop them by force. Rather than
the arsonist to see reason, they were infuriated which led to setting
the house of the Pastor, Rev Habila Garba, ablaze as well. As a result
of the fire, one of the Pastor’s daughters died of suffocation and most
of the house destroyed.
They also attacked and wounded Bawa Adamu and Aminu Dauda, who received
machete cuts leading to broken arms. Others received similar wounds but
of lesser degrees.
The cause of the barbaric act was to kill one youth, Yahaya Joshua, who
converted to Islam but later on reverted back to Christianity. The youth
had escaped on learning of the plan to kill him. They therefore set the
Church and Pastor’s house on fire and went about maiming and wounding
any Christian they saw. The incidence was immediately reported to the
Police and the District Head at Rogo. At the time of filing this report
on 3rd April, 2015, no information was received about the action taken
or if any arrests were made. However, all the wounded know and can
identify their attackers by name since they all belong to the same
village.
The Tarayyar Masihiyawan Nigeriya is calling on the authorities to take
the necessary steps to stem or stop all these harassments and
molestations of innocent Christians for whatever reasons. We have the
right to belong to any religion of our choice and live anywhere in this
country. We call on the authorities at all levels to rise up to their
responsibilities to protect lives and properties of every citizen in
this country.
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