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 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.
"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."
Source: Vanguard