Church Attacks: Nigerian Preachers Go Angry Say This Nonsense Must Stop

A cross-section of Nigerian preachers has all lent their voices to the frequent church invasions, bombings and shootings of Christians in Nigeria, especially in Northern Nigeria.

 The angry reactions are coming on the heels of string of attacks on church buildings and innocent Christians in the year 2012.

 Year 2012, like year 2011, had both witnessed huge series of unending attacks on Christians and Churches by the nation’s Islamist Sect, Boko Haram.

Primate Nicholas Okoh

 While reacting to the frequent invasion of churches by suicide bombers, Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde, has called on the Federal Government and all relevant security agencies in the country to expose those perpetrating acts of terror being witnessed in different parts of the country, especially in the north.

 Reacting to the bombing of the St. Rita’s Catholic Church, Kaduna, which left about 10 people dead, including a priest and nearly 150 others injured, in a statement made available by the Church’s Media and Public Relations Officer, Rev. Oladapo Daramola, the prelate said “Until those behind these series of acts of terror are exposed, there is the possibility that the blood-thirsty people will not stop.

 “It is surprising that since these acts of terror began, nobody has been arrested and brought to justice. This is more like an endorsement for them to carry on in these evil acts. It is a license to hell. Until those behind these terror plots are brought to justice, we may see more repeats of their kinds of acts. The big question, however, is how many more innocent people would have died before we declare a full-blown and effective war on terrorism? At least, by now, we should know those who are contending with and what their motives are. Is it a declaration of war against Christendom or as attempt to frustrate and make life unbearable for the government of the day?’’



Rev Ola Makinde

 Also reacting on the series of heartless attacks on Christians and their religion, Prelate of the Anglican Church Nigeria, most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, while delivering a lecture recently in Abuja said: ‘’The Christian faith is seriously under attack in Nigeria from without and within. From without, we are concerned about violent expression of Islam represented by Boko Haram. In some parts of the North, the Christian faith is endangered specie; Boko Haram is not just against Christians but has stated, emphatically that it wants the Christian faith rooted out of the North. This is the idea behind the bombing, shootings, slaughtering and maiming it has be executing’’.

 Similarly, while reacting, Rev. Yunusa Nmade said: “I condemn in the strongest terms this barbaric get of terrorism which, through aimed at the Church, has claimed the lives of innocent Christians and Muslims of all tribes.’’

 “Our lives have been hunted like animals in the bush. The Church in the Northern Nigeria is in even biggest trouble. Please mobilize global prayer for us”, submitted a victim.

 Benjamin Kwashi, after one of the major attacks on a church said: “Weekends are now a terror for Christians in the northern and central Nigeria. My heart bleeds at the unnecessary killings and I am deeply saddened that in a nation like Nigeria, there are people who sponsor, plan, train and support people to execute evil specifically targeted against worship of God on Sunday on  Christians in Church’’

Pastor.E.A Adeboye

 Immediately after the November 25^th, 2012 bomb attack on a Church at a military formation in Kaduna, CAN described the attacks as ‘madness’ added that it was regrettable that no one was helping us (Christians) out of this situation.

‘’What is happening now is unfortunate. These are people who have senses of reasoning. Therefore, there is no reason why worshippers of Almighty God should be killed. So one is getting informed as to how to respond to this kind of mockery, stupidity and madness, which is being perpetrated by people we claim that we don’t know”.

Also reacting after the military formation attack, former commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, condemned the bombing. Tsav, who called on Nigerians of goodwill to help expose them said. “I dare say, there is a military connection to this. If they (extremists) could go and bomb a church inside a military formation in Jaji, where can’t they go?’’ Where? He asked.

In his own reaction, Pastor Chris Okehie of Victory Wall Gospel Church said: “I think this madness should stop! Because here, there have not been anytime we heard that mosques were bombed. We always hear that churches are been bombed; people are shot in churches. For Jesus’ sake, it is high time this thing stopped! These attacks should stop! If nobody talks about it, we should rise up and talk about it. They should stop bombing churches and call political challenges and all that! This is an attack on the Church! And if we take arms and begin to bomb mosques, it will become a challenge. Please, for Jesus’ sake, they should stop it and it is high time they stopped!’’

 Pastor Chiaka Hyacent of GLIM, while reacting about the string of attacks on church buildings, said: “It is very painful because it will be inhuman to discard it, as nothing because we are talking about life. But we also need to understand this fact: we that are here, how safe are we? I drove all the way from Abuja here in the early hours of the morning, about 4:00am. I got close to Lokoja, without seeing a soldier or policeman on the road. It is God that is saving us. Attacks on churches and Christians are very painful’’.

Recently, Kaduna had witnessed a series of bombings on churches, among which the October 28, 2012 bombing is one of the examples.

 Kano also, in recent months, had witnessed the persecution on Christians and Christianity. There have been a series of shootings, slaughtering and killings of Christians. With the latest, on 25 November, 2012 being the killings of a Christian family of three, who were on their way to church. It was reported that gunmen on motorbikes waylaid them and deprived father, mother and their young son of their precious lives.

Northern Nigerian, especially Kaduna, Kano, and Borno in recent years, proved to be Boko Haram hotbed.