
Over 50 pastors and thousands of youth groups mostly from different
denominational Churches on Friday converged at the demolished site of
Local Church of Brethren, LCB, under Ekkliziyan Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN),
a.k.a Church of Brethren Maduganari ward in Borno State to pray and
seek God’s intervention.
reports that the Borno Geographic Information Service
(BOGIS) on Thursday demolished EYN church for allegedly flouting land
laws.
The church members who were not happy with the outing of BOGIS and
what happened on Thursday that led to shooting of church members called
on the Borno State Government under the leadership of Governor Babagana
Umara Zulum to immediately reconstruct the destroyed Church building.
Borno: Christians furious over EYN Church demolition, members’ killing, demand sanctions
This is coming at the instances where Borno State Governor, Zulum on
Thursday in a state wide broadcast appealed for calm, and ordered for
immediate investigation into the matter, so as to punish anyone found
wanting.
The governor has equally delegated his Deputy, Umar Kadafur who
visited the victims in the hospital and ordered for settlement of their
medical bills.
Addressing journalists at the demolished site of the Church on
Friday, the pastor in-charge of EYN Maduganari, Reverend Shawulu Auta
Ndahi, condemned the killing of one of his church members who attempted
to protect the Church from demolition, stressing that, there is nothing
worth on earth that can compensate life.
“We have gathered here today to express our displeasure over what has happened to our Church and its members.
“Yesterday (Thursday) at about 11am, we received a distress call that
some officials of BOGIS in company of some CJTF and graders came and
demolished our Church with all facilities destroyed.
“In the process, some of our members started hurling stones at the
officials of BOGIS, before Some CJTF members opened fire after seizing
their communication gadgets, which led to the killing of Mr. Ezekiel
Bitrus. May his gentle soul rest in peace.
Two dead as crisis breaks out in Borno over demolition of EYN Church building
“In view of this unwholesome conduct, we are hereby displaying all
our Certificate of Occupancy and other relevant documents used in
acquiring this land which are legal documents.
“Therefore, as a Church which believes in peace and unity, we have
some immediate demands from Governor Zulum to; immediately reconstruct
our demolished Church and other facilities including our pure water
factory.
“Although, there is nothing on earth that can compensate for life, we
requested the state government to immediately assist the families of
the deceased and those who sustained gunshot wounds currently receiving
treatment at a state Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri.
“We called on the state government to immediately remove Engineer
Adam Bababe from heading BOGIS which is an agency of government tasked
with responsibility of land maintenance.
“The Church which has 99% of its membership and citizens of Borno,
also want the state government to lift the ban on teaching of Christian
Religious Knowledge (CRK) in all our primary and secondary schools as it
has been the practice in the past, as the constitution allows for
freedom of worship in the country,” the cleric stated.
Also in his own address, the Youth CAN Chairman Metro, Mr. Sunday
Ishaku, while making his condemnation on behalf of Christian youth
groups, prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased and quick
recovery for those who sustained injuries during the avoidable fracas.
Ishaku, however, passed a vote of no confidence on the CAN Chairman
led by Bishop Naga, whom he allegedly took some officials/individuals to
meet with Governor Zulum some hours after the incident at the
Government House just for their selfish interest.
“We are disappointed with the CAN leadership under the Chairmanship
of Bishop Mohammed Naga, because as I address you today, Bishop Naga has
failed to officially come out with a statement regarding this
unwholesome treatment meted to us by BOGIS and men of CJTF,” Ishaku
alleged.