Suspected hoodlums in the early hours of yesterday set ablaze the Redeemed Christian Church of God (Champion Zonal Headquarters) situated along Federal College of Education (FCE) road in Kontagora.
An Assistant Pastor in the church, Pastor Samson Ogbebor who confirmed the incident, said the church came under attack by unknown hoodlums at about 3am on Saturday
It was gathered that a similar fate befell the church 10 years ago when some hoodlums took advantage of a crisis in the area and burnt down the worship center and the church management was later warned not to rebuild the church.
Said Ogbebor, who narrated how the incident occured: “I got a distress call that our Church was on fire and on getting there, I met a church that had been in existence for the past 20 years being burnt down and properties looted by hoodlums.
“This Church has faced lots of challenges. About 10 years ago, hoodlums came and burnt it down completely and with self efforts we were able to erect it again.
“We have made several unsuccessful attempts but they 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 today again.”
While appealing to Governor Umaru Bago, the Emir of Kontagora, Alhaji Muhammadu Bari Mu’azu II and all relevant security agencies to treat the incident with all the seriousness it deserves, Pastor Ogbebor disclosed that the incident had been reported to the ‘A’ Division Police station in Kontagora for investigation and to bring the perpetrators to book.
In his reaction, the Coordinator of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kontagora, Very Rev. Fr. Musa John Ghado appreciated God and commended the efforts of Governor Bago and the State CAN Chairman, Most Rev (Dr) Bulus Dauwa Yohanna and all other actors who did not support the #EndBadGovernance Protests, saying that would have provided a good opportunity for churches in the area to come under attack
“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 agonized.
He, however, encouraged the parishioners and all Christians in the State to follow the way of Jesus Christ and remain calm, peaceful and seek the face of God as they continue with their worship, promising that the issue will be forwarded to the state CAN for further action.
An Elder in the church, Mr John Aboje, also disclosed that they have no cause to be deterred by the incident but to continue to be good Christians and citizens of the country.
“We just want the government and the emirate to look into this very issue to allow freedom of worship in Kontagora and the state in general,” he said.
Meanwhile the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Niger state chapter, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna has condemned the incident by the unidentified arsonists.
The State CAN Chairman in a statement in Minna, described the incident as barbaric and uncalled for, saying that “it was a painful thing to the Christian community; the government needs to take proper action by ensuring the culprits are brought to book.”
“There is freedom of worship in Niger state, I am sure 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,” he pointed out.
“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 state police command was yet to react to the development as at the time of this report.
