Church Razed, Pastor's Daughter Killed In Kano

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 ofTarayyar 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.

"The incidence was immediately reported to the Police and the District
Head at Rogo. No information has been received about the action taken
or if any arrests were made.

"However, all the wounded know and can identify their attackers by
name since they all belong to the same village.

"The Tarayyar Masihiyawan Nigeriya is calling on the authorities to
take the necessary steps to stem or stop all these harassments and
molestations of innocent Christians for whatever reasons.

"We have the right to belong to any religion of our choice and live
anywhere in this country.

"We call on the authorities at all levels to rise up to their
responsibilities to protect lives and properties of every citizen in
this country."
--Vanguard