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Christians in Nigeria decry police inaction in church burnings

Compass Direct News is reporting that the head of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Zamfara state has told them that he was disappointed in the lack of response by state police to recent church burnings by Muslim youths, writes Dan Wooding, founder of ASSIST Ministries.

“It is unfortunate that there has been no response from the police, and even the state governor has refused to meet with us,” the acting state chairman of CAN, said the Rev. Edwin Okpara.

“The Redeemed Christian Church of God building in Tudun Wada was partly burnt on Jan. 25, and Christian Faith Bible church and the Living Faith Foundation Chapel, both in Gusau, were partly burnt in attacks on Jan. 20 and 24 respectively,” said the Compass story.

It went on to say that in the petition dated Jan. 26, CAN stated that the church burnings came in the aftermath of “a grand plot to unleash mayhem on churches and Christians in the state due to the religious clash in Jos, Plateau state.”

Compass said that the association alleged that those who attacked the Zamfara churches were emboldened because officials made no serious move to arrest those who carried out the Jos attacks. Two pastors and 46 other Christians were killed in the outbreak of violence in Jos on Jan. 17, triggered when Muslim youths attacked a Catholic church; 10 church buildings were burned, and police estimated more than 300 lives were lost in the clash.

The State Police Command was not available for comment on the CAN request.

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TAGS: Nigeria Christian Association of Nigeria church burnings police inaction persecution Rev. Edwin Okpara

[03/01/2010]

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