Burnt church: Niger Govt agency urges Christians, Muslims to unite

Director General of the Niger State Bureau of Religious Affairs, Dr. Umar Farooq Abdullahi has appealed to the Christian and Muslim communities in the state to join forces in confronting and defeating the enemies of peace, who threaten the stability and well-being of the state.

The DG made this appeal when he led a team to commiserate with the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Niger State chapter, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna in Minna.

The visit was coming at the heels of the arson attack on the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Kontagora.

Abdullahi who spoke through the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Religious Affairs, Alhaji Liman MashaAllah, explained that those who set the church on fire are enemies of peace out to cause disunity among the people.

“We are one, the enemies of peace just want to cause disaffection amongst us. We are the same from same creator, as Muslims our religion teaches us to be tolerant and live in peace with everyone,” he said.

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He equally called on Muslims and Christians to join hands together to defeat “this common enemy who wants to destabilise the peace being enjoyed in our dear state”.

Those hoodlums are evildoers and should be put to shame. Islam discourages any form of chaos or disaffection amongst us. Islam does not accept anyone who does not believe in Jesus,” he added.

Abdullahi appealed to relevant security agencies to do all they can to arrest and prosecute the masterminds to serve as deterrent to anyone who wants to foment trouble in the state, particularly in Kontagora.

The state CAN Chairman who is also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Rev Dr. Bulus Dawau Yahanna, in his remarks commended the Bureau for sympathising with the association and the RCCG over the incident.

Yohanna who was represented by his Deputy, Rev. Ezekiel Ibrahim, explained that CAN has decided to take the incident in good faith.

He said, “The truth is, if there is chaos or crisis we can not move forward or live together. We should take advantage of the relative peace in Kontagora and in the state, work together to put the enemies of peace to shame.”