Suspected hoodlums in the early hours of Saturday, looted and set ablaze the zonal headquarters of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Kontagora, Niger state.
It was gathered that the attack on the Church was the second in 10 years following an unresolved issue bothering on the location of the building.
Narrating how the incident occurred, the Assistant Pastor of the church, Samson Ogbebor, said the attack took place around 3am on Saturday.
“I got a distressed 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 today again,” the Pastor said.
The Niger state governor, Umaru and the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, have both condemned the incident, describing it as mindless, cowardly and barbaric.
Bago, in a statement on Sunday by Aisha Wakaso, his Special Adviser on Print Media, described the attack on the Church “as mindless and cowardly.”
He said the barbaric act of looting and burning of the Church was not only an attack on the Christian community but a direct affront on the peace and unity cherished in the state.
“We totally condemn this act and tell our Christian brothers and sisters, as well as other Niger inhabitants, that the government prioritises their safety, security, and freedom of religion.
“Our state utilises its diversity and the peaceful coexistence of all religious and ethnic groups. We will not condone this act of violence,” the statement said.
The governor said all relevant security agencies had been directed to conduct an immediate inquiry into the incident.
He vowed that the perpetrators of the horrible act would be caught and duly prosecuted.
Bago called on the people of Kontagora to be calm and refrain from reprisal attacks as everything was being done to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
The governor said his administration would continue to take all the necessary precautions to protect all places of worship in order to prevent the recurrence of such regrettable and reprehensible acts.
Bago also called on the residents of the state to be watchful and report any suspicious activity to the authorities to avoid further occurrences of such heinous atrocities.
He pledged the state government’s support to members of the affected church and the christian community.
On his part, the CAN Chairman said the incident is painful to the Christian community and called on the government to take proper action by ensuring that the culprits are brought to book.
Yohanna said, “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”.
