Hoodlums set church ablaze in Niger

Hoodlums have burnt down the Redeemed Christian Church of God (Champion Zonal Headquarters) situated along the Federal College of Education (FCE) Road in Kontagora, Niger State.

The Guardian learnt that the church was set ablaze in the early hours of Saturday, August 10. It was also learnt that the church was razed 10 years ago by unidentified hoodlums who warned that the building should not be completed.

Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, Most Rev Dr Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, condemned the incident. He described it as barbaric and uncalled for, saying it was a painful thing to the Christian community. He said the state government and relevant authorities need to take proactive measures to ensure that the culprits are brought to book.

“There is freedom of worship in Niger State. I am sure that by the time the government and security agencies take action, it will go a long way in addressing any tension that may want to escalate beyond control.

“We are hoping that the law will take its course. To be frank, issues like this must be tamed, and people who have done this should be fished out and made to face the law,” he added.

When contacted, the church’s assistant pastor, Samson Ogbebor, said the incident occurred at about 3:00 a.m. on Saturday. He said: “I got a distress call that our church was on fire, and on getting there, I met a church that has been in existence for the past 20 years being burnt down and properties looted by hoodlums.

“This church has faced lots of challenges. Sometimes, about 10 years ago, hoodlums came and burned it down completely, and with our own efforts, we were able to erect it again. “They had refused us permission to roof it properly, and we decided to use it like that for worship, but look at what they have done today.”

The Coordinator of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kontagora, Very Rev Fr Musa John Gado, while commending the efforts of Governor Bago and the State CAN Chairman, Most Rev (Dr) Bulus Dauwa Yohanna and other stakeholders who did not support the #EndBadGovernance Protest, said: “By now, we would have been counting our losses because these hoodlums would have seized the opportunity to cause havoc on innocent lives and properties. ”

He encouraged the parishioners and all Christians to remain calm and peaceful and seek God’s face as they continued with their worship, adding that the issue would be reported to the state CAN for further action.