The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Niger
State Chapter, Rev. Mathias Echioda, has condemned the recent attack allegedly
carried out by some Muslim youths at the St. Philip’s Catholic Church,
Barkin-Iku, Suleja. The youths reportedly vandalised the church property on July
15.
Echioda, in an interview with our correspondent on Saturday,
asked the Muslim youths not to take CAN’s refusal to launch a reprisal as a
sign of weakness. He described the attack against the church as unacceptable. He said those who carried out the attack should be made to
pay for the destruction of the church property so that the church could resume
its services.
The cleric said, “The fact that Christianity has always been
known as a peace-loving and peace-promoting faith should, however, not be taken
for a weakness. Christians are not fools.
“We commend the CAN leaders in Suleja for restraining
Christian youths from carrying out a reprisal against the Muslims. We commend
the Niger State Government for outrightly condemning the barbaric act and for
directing that the attack be investigated and that the culprits be brought to
book.”
He also urged the Commission of Enquiry set up by the
governor to investigate the violence to ensure that the youths who perpetrated
the crime do not go scot-free.
He added, “We also commend security agencies, the Chairman
of the Suleja Local Government Council, and the traditional rulers for
mediating in the crisis. Let this be a warning that Christians will not fold
their hands; we shall protect and defend our fundamental and constitutional
rights. Niger State and Nigeria belong to all of us.”
“We must, therefore, learn to tolerate and appreciate our
differences. The government should put structures in place through the Bureau
of Religious Affairs to discourage messages of hatred at worship centres.”
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