Following the recent tragic incident at the Kontagora headquarters of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, the Niger State Forum of Imams has strongly denounced the perpetrators and demanded their swift arrest.
The appalling event unfolded on Sunday, with reports indicating that a group of suspected hoodlums raided the church premises in large numbers and set fire to the building, which was still under construction.
Expressing his dismay, Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, condemned the senseless act of arson against the church.
During a visit to the CAN secretariat in Minna, the Director General of the Niger State Bureau of Religious Affairs and Secretary General of the Niger State Imams Forum, Umar Abdullahi, led a delegation of Imams to extend their condolences to the Niger State Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Chairman, Most Rev. Bulus Yohana.
Representing Abdullahi, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Religious Affairs, Liman MashaAllah, reiterated the message of unity, stating, “We are all united. Those who seek to disrupt our peace are the true enemies.
“As Muslims, our faith emphasizes tolerance and harmony with all. We understand that amidst us, there will always be elements of good, bad, and the ugly.
“It is imperative that we stand together against these malevolent forces attempting to disturb the peace that we cherish in our state. These hoodlums are agents of darkness and must be exposed.”
He urged the law enforcement agencies to intensify efforts in apprehending and prosecuting the culprits to set a precedent and discourage any future attempts to sow discord, particularly in Kontagora.
“Islam unequivocally denounces discord and strives for unity among us. Islam recognizes and respects the significance of Jesus in our beliefs.
“We implore the security agencies to employ all necessary measures to bring the perpetrators to justice and deter any potential troublemakers,” he emphasized.
In response, the State CAN Chairman, also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, praised the Bureau for standing in solidarity with the Christian community and the Redeemed Christian Church of God following the tragic incident.
In his absence, Rev. Ezekiel Ibrahim, the Deputy of Yohanna, conveyed their acceptance of the gesture, stating, “We acknowledge the presence of miscreants seeking to disrupt our peace. It is only through peace that we can move forward and coexist harmoniously.”
He called for a cooperative relationship between religious groups, urging, “Let us leverage the existing peace in Kontagora and the state to unite against those who seek to disrupt our harmonious living.”