Muslims burned down a church constructing within the early hours of August 10 in central Nigeria’s Niger state, sources said.
The razing of the constructing of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) congregation in Kontagora town at about 3 a.m. was the second time Muslims have destroyed the worship auditorium at the positioning, said Associate Pastor Samson Ogbebor.
“I got a distress call that our church was on fire, and on getting there I met a church being burned down and properties therein looted by hoodlums,” Pastor Ogbebor told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “This church has faced a lot of challenges – about 10 years ago, some Muslim hoodlums got here and burnt it down completely, and thru self-efforts we were capable of rebuild the worship sanctuary.”
Muslims in Kontagora had made several unsuccessful attempts to forestall the congregation from constructing the worship auditorium, he said.
“We eventually accomplished the constructing of the church constructing, but they’ve not relented of their opposition to allowing us as Christians to have a spot of worship within the town,” Pastor Ogbebor said. “For a second time they’ve burnt down the sanctuary.”
Church member Markus Emmanuel said he rushed to the positioning after receiving a call in regards to the fire on the Champion Parish, Kontagora town.
“The constructing was completely razed by fire,” Emmanuel told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “Some residents near the church constructing told us that they saw a bunch of Muslims who got here into the church premises and set fire on the constructing.”
Emmanuel said the constructing was still under construction when it was burned 10 years ago.
“This is the second time our worship sanctuary has been destroyed, as 10 years back, a bunch of Muslim fanatics who were against the church constructing being constructed at that site set fire on it, before the worship constructing was reconstructed,” he said.
Church deacon John Aboje called on Muslim leaders within the town to take measures toward preserving religious freedom of Christians within the predominantly Muslim Kontagora Local Government Area.
“We just wish to plead with the state government and the Kontagora Muslim emirate to look into the difficulty by compelling the perpetrators to permit freedom of worship,” Aboje said.
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 isn’t only barbaric and unwarranted, but in addition a really painful experience to the Christian community in Kontagora town,” Yohanna said. “There’s the necessity for presidency officials in Kontagora to take strict measures towards putting an end to such ungodly activities of fanatics. This incident has created religious tension.”
Christians were hoping that the law would take its course, he said.
“To be frank, issues like this have to be tamed, and folks who’ve done this ought to be fished out and made to face the law,” Yohanna said.
Aisha Wakaso, media aid to Gov. Mohammed Bago, said in an announcement that the governor condemned the destruction of the church constructing.
“We totally condemn this act and tell our Christian brothers and sisters, in addition to other Niger state inhabitants, that the federal government prioritizes their safety, security, and freedom of faith,” Wakaso said. “Our state utilizes its diversity and the peaceful coexistence of all religious and ethnic groups. We won’t condone this silly act of violence.”
The governor has requested that each one relevant security agencies conduct an instantaneous and complete inquiry into the attack, he said.
“We are convinced that the perpetrators of this horrible arson shall be quickly discovered and prosecuted,” Wakaso said. “The administration will see that those involved are punished to the fullest extent of the law. We urge the people of Kontagora and Niger state to be calm and refrain from revenge or violence. Let us proceed to collaborate to preserve the peace and togetherness that outline our magnificent nation.”
In the 2024 WWL of the countries where it’s most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria was ranked No. 6, because it was within the previous yr. Nigeria remained the deadliest place on this planet to follow Christ, with 4,118 people killed for his or her faith from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023, based on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List (WWL) report. More kidnappings of Christians than in some other country also took place in Nigeria, with 3,300.
Nigeria was also the third highest country in variety of attacks on churches and other Christian buildings equivalent to hospitals, schools, and cemeteries, with 750, based on the report.
