Vanguard reports that at least one person died, Monday, as irate youths set ablaze Baptist Church at Gidan Maso village in Rogo Local Government Area of Kano State, while the residence of the pastor, Rev Habila Garba, was also burnt.
This came barely a week after unidentified arsonists attacked a branch of Living Faith Church, popularly called Winners Chapel, at Giwa in Kaduna State.
The deceased, one of the pastor’s daughters, was said to have died of suffocation as parts of the house were destroyed by the fire, which resulted from the attack at about 7:30p.m.
President of Tarayyar Masihiyawan Nijeria (Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri Christians), General Ishaku Ahmed Dikko (retd), told newsmen yesterday in Abuja that the intention was to kill one youth, Yahaya Joshua, who converted to Islam but later reverted to Christianity.
Dikko, in a statement, called on the state government to live up to its statutory responsibility of ensuring protection of lives and property. Narrating the incident, he said: “The Baptist Church at Gidan Maso village of Rogo Local Government Area in Kano State was set on fire by youths of the village on April 1 at about 7:30p.m.
“The church and all the properties were burnt down in the presence of the Christian community despite all pleadings for them to stop the destruction.
“The arsonists gathered cornstalks, put them inside the church before setting it ablaze. This made the action to seem deliberate and for ulterior motives.
“The Christians present exhibited great Christian qualities by not taking the law into their hands by trying to stop them by force.
“Rather than see reason, the arsonist were infuriated which led to setting the house of the pastor, Rev Habila Garba, ablaze as well.
“One of the pastor’s daughters died of suffocation and most parts of the house destroyed. “They also attacked and wounded Bawa Adamu and Aminu Dauda, who received machete cuts leading to broken arms. Others received similar wounds, but of lesser degrees.
“The cause of the barbaric act was to kill one youth, Yahaya Joshua, who converted to Islam but later on reverted back to Christianity. “He had escaped on learning of the plan to kill him.
They therefore set the Church and Pastor’s house on fire and went about maiming and wounding any Christian they saw. (Vanguard).
Gov Ayo Fayose should be held responsible. In a decent society and as the State CEO you don’t result into street fight anytime you are aggrieved or you don’t want anything to be done to you.
You simply approach the Court for redress or an injunction. Last year With his supporters distrupted the court/tribunal proceedings.
Again on Monday his Deputy, Public Communications Director and Supporters prevented the third tier of government from conducting house business. This is absurd and lawlessness. It has never happened in the history of our Country for an Executive Governor to always result into distruption of Judiciary and Legislature.
Mis posted