Nigeria: 200 Muslims storm and destroy Catholic church

The Christian Association of Nigeria has condemned the Muhammadu Buhari administration over increasing violence against non-Muslims Afolabi Sotunde

A group of several hundred Muslim youths have stormed and destroyed a Catholic church in Nigeria, days after a female pastor was hacked to death and a week after the similarly brutal killing of another, male evangelical pastor.

The latest attack came on St Philip's Catholic Parish, Baki Iku, close to Zuma Rock in Niger State, where worshippers were told on Friday that the day was for Muslims to pray and not Christians, who could only do so on Sundays.

The Vicar-General of the church, Revered-Father Gobep Luka Sylvester, confirmed the attack to Nigerian newspaper This Day and said that numerous pieces of church property had been destroyed.

Sylvester told This Day: "Sometime around 2pm, some Muslim youths in numbering 200 left their Mosque after their Friday Jumat prayer and rushed to the Church premises, climbed the wall and destroyed everything in the Church: the windows, the alter, musical instruments, the chapel. The security man in the church premises was beaten to pulp. Some women who were holding a prayer meeting were chased away. The seminarian who is resident in the premises was also beaten up and chased away."

Sylvester said that the incident had been reported to the police, who claim to have made some arrests and said they will investigate further.

In 2012 Alhaji Kabiru Sokoto, a suspected member of terrorist group Boko Haram, detonated a bomb on Christmas day that killed several Catholics and passers-by at St Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla, close to St Philips that was destroyed on Friday.

Sylvester added: "Just last week, Mrs Eunice Olawale, a mobile preacher of the Redeemed Christian Church of God was killed by some fanatical Muslims in Kubwa, FCT. How long are we going to continue like this?"

Last week, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) condemned the Muhammadu Buhari administration over increasing violence against non-Muslims and warned Christians to defend themselves following the killing of Olawale last weekend.

Olawale, a pastor for the Redeemed Christian Church of God, was hacked to death in the Gbazango area of Kubwa, Abuja, by suspected Muslim fanatics, while preaching on the morning on 9 July.

Prior to that, a male pastor was also hacked to death by armed Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria's central state of Nasarawa, according to World Watch Monitor (WWM).

Rev Joseph Kurah, of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Obi town, was reportedly killed on 30 June after going to his farm at around 7pm to cut down trees for roofing wood.

related articles
Nigerian Christian who sought refuge in Italy from Boko Haram is murdered
Nigerian Christian who sought refuge in Italy from Boko Haram is murdered

Nigerian Christian who sought refuge in Italy from Boko Haram is murdered

Woman has throat slit while preaching gospel in Nigeria

Woman has throat slit while preaching gospel in Nigeria

Nigeria: Buhari regime condemned after killing of female Christian preacher
Nigeria: Buhari regime condemned after killing of female Christian preacher

Nigeria: Buhari regime condemned after killing of female Christian preacher

News
Christians redouble efforts to stop assisted suicide
Christians redouble efforts to stop assisted suicide

Christians are doubling down on efforts to stop assisted suicide becoming legal in England and Wales after Kim Leadbeater's bill was debated in Westminster on Friday. 

Christian leaders unite in Westminster to kick off 2025 ‘Shine Your Light’ evangelism campaign
Christian leaders unite in Westminster to kick off 2025 ‘Shine Your Light’ evangelism campaign

More than 100 Christian leaders recently came together at a parliamentary reception in London for the launch of Shine Your Light 2025 — a bold evangelistic initiative aiming to bring the message of Christ to streets, neighbourhoods, and marketplaces across the UK.

Darlington nurses still waiting for single-sex changing space despite Supreme Court ruling
Darlington nurses still waiting for single-sex changing space despite Supreme Court ruling

An NHS trust has been accused of continually flouting the law around women’s rights by requiring female nurses to get changed in front of a biologically male nurse who goes by the name of “Rose”. 

CofE mission funding has brought in 37,000 people since 2017
CofE mission funding has brought in 37,000 people since 2017

The Church of England is happy with the progress being made by strategic mission and ministry investments.