Suspected hoodlums have set ablaze the Redeemed Christian Church of God (Champion Zonal Headquarters) in Kontagora, Niger state.
The church was burnt to ashes on Saturday, August 10, 2024.
This is the second time the church would be set ablaze within ten years over an unresolved issue which bothers on the location of the building.
The warring people have vowed that the church would not be completed as long as the church is not relocated.
Meanwhile, the state Governor, Muhammed Umaru Bago and
The State Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, Most Reverend Bulus Dauwa Yohanna condemned the action describing it as mindless, cowardly, and barbaric.
In a press statement issued by his Special Adviser on Print Media, Aisha Wakaso, the Governor described the attack as “mindless, barbaric, and cowardly”.
“The barbaric act committed by hoodlums in the early hours of Saturday, which resulted in the burning and looting of the church is not only an attack on the Christian community but also a direct affront to the peace and unity that we cherish in Niger State.
“We totally condemn this act and tell our Christian brothers and sisters as well as other Niger State inhabitants that the government prioritizes their safety, security, and freedom of religion.
“Our state utilizes its diversity and the peaceful coexistence of all religious and ethnic groups and we will not condone this stupid act of violence,” the Governor declared.
Governor Bago has directed that all relevant security agencies conduct an immediate and complete inquiry into this occurrence and hope and convinced that the perpetrators of the horrible incident will be quickly discovered and prosecuted.
The Governor urged the people of Kontagora and Niger State to be calm and refrain from revenge or violence but rather continue to collaborate to preserve the peace and togetherness that define our magnificent nation.
The CAN Chairman has described the incident as barbaric uncalled for and a painful thing to the Christian community and therefore called on the government to take proper action by ensuring that the culprits are brought to book.
According to him “there is freedom of worship in Niger state and I am sure that by the time the government and security agencies take action, it will go a long way to address any form of 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.”
The Assistant Pastor of the church, Pastor Samson Ogbebor when contacted said the incident occurred around 3 am on Saturday.
According to him “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 burnt it down completely, and with self-efforts, we were able to erect it again.
“They have made several unsuccessful attempts and have refused us the permission to roof it properly and we decided to be using it like that for worship but look at what they have done marked again,” the Pastor remarked.