Hoodlums raze Redeemed church in Abuja

 The Christian Association of Nigeria (Youth Wing) has given the Federal Government and security agencies one-week ultimatum to identify and prosecute the hoodlums who razed the Redeemed Christian Church of God (Root of David Parish) in Dei Dei, a satellite community in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

YOWICAN threatened that failure to produce the arsonist would force its members to embark on a nationwide protest.

The National President of YOWICAN, Daniel Kadzai, who conducted journalists around the scene of the incident on Friday evening, said it was unfortunate that attacks on Christians and their churches had not been taken seriously.

He said, “I want to express my disappointment in this government for the gross dereliction of its duty. The primary role of government is to provide security to its citizens, irrespective of their religion or ethnicity. But it seems the government has failed in this duty.

“I sincerely want to call on the government to take the issue of church burning, church demolition and attacks on Christians seriously. We do not want to reach a point where we might not be able to control our youths.

“We are therefore giving the government one-week ultimatum to apprehend the perpetrators of this latest attack and prosecute them accordingly.

“All Christian youths across the country would stage a peaceful protest if government continues to exhibit lackadaisical attitude towards the issue, while ignoring the sponsors of the attacks.”

SUNDAY PUNCH observed that the incident occurred seven months after the assassination of a 42-year-old preacher with the RCCG, Evangelist Eunice Elisha Olawale, during an early morning preaching at Gbazango-West area of Kubwa, a satellite town, in the Bwari Area Council on Saturday July 9, 2016.

It was also learnt that the latest attack on the RCCG parish came barely a few weeks after the church was burgled by hoodlums who entered through the ceiling and carted away six ceiling fans, speakers and microphones.

The incident took place in the early hours of Monday, February 13, 2017, around 5am at the church Area Headquarters in Apiawe Village, DeiDei, a few kilometres to Kubwa, one of the satellite towns of the FCT.

The victims were said to have kept sealed leaps for fear of more attacks.

During the  incident which left the church completely razed, the hoodlums allegedly stole musical instruments and other valuables worth millions of naira belonging to the church.

Several calls, SMS and WhatsApp messages to the Police Public Relations Officer (FCT Command), Anjuguri Manzah, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, were not replied.

But the Investigating Police Officer, who simply identified himself as Sergeant Naso, told SUNDAY PUNCH that they were on top of the situation.

“We have been working hard and we are believing God. You know, to carry out an investigation is not always easy. But we believe that with God, those culprits will be arrested.

“So far, we have conducted raiding.We went there and raided people living around the area. We are still on top of it, investigation is still going on and with the help of God, these culprits will be arrested,” he stated.

The pastor in charge of the parish, Stephen Oladele, said he received a distress call from one of his members, informing him that some men had burnt down the church.

“They made away with the generator, musical instruments, chairs, microphones and set the whole structure on fire,” he said.

Culled from Punch News

Buhari will die unless I am not called by God – Nigerian Prophet

Prophet Emmanuel Chukwudi of King of Kings Deliverance Church has again prophesied ‘doom’ on President Muhammadu Buhari.
The prophet also made startling revelations concerning the future of governance in the United States.

Recall that Prophet Chukwudi, among his prophecies for 2017, had said President Buhari would die before 2019 ends..
But the fiery prophet reinstated his stand on the prophecy, saying if Buhari did not die in office, then he (Prophet Chukwudi) was not called by God.
He made the fresh revelation during Sunday’s service at his church in Mgbo Court, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi state.
He said, “Long time ago, I asked all to pray for their master, that he needed urgent prayers to avert the calamity of death at Aso Rock, but they were lazy.

“No one has bothered to reach me, now see what is happening. They don’t want to come for prayers. Things will get worse.
“I said he will be president, today he has become president, I said he will die, see what is happening.
“Nobody wants to come and see the man of God, no one cares. You think it’s like something you can wish away. You cannot wish it away.
“You people around the president, you are sleeping. You won’t do anything to pray for him.

“Let me tell you, until you come before the man of God, and kneel down and pray for the president, you are also heaping curses upon yourself.
“You think the calamity will visit only him? It will visit those who also heard and refused to do anything to save the president.
“While it’s still early, seek the face of God for the sake of Nigeria for the sake of President Buhari, and save the situation.
“But the Lord has even said that you will suffer due to your obstinate mind.
“Unless one arises to save the president, he shall never rule beyond one term.
“He shall certainly die in office, says the Lord, unless I am not God, says the Lord,” the prophet added.
Speaking further, he said former president of the US, Barack Obama, will join forces with certain elements in a fierce battle to oust President Donald Trump ‘If urgent steps are not taken, I see his presidency shaking.’
“They have vowed to make his government uncomfortable. Obama and other enemies of Trump are the ones behind it, and they are planning to remove him”, he claimed.

Shun Ethnic,Religious Baises,Osinbajo Warned Nigerians

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has urged Nigerians to shun ethnic or religious biases. Speaking yesterday at the 2017 Murtala Muhammed Memorial lecture in Abuja, Osinbajo expressed regrets that the spirit of the Nigerian project had degenerated to the extent that, “The first question we ask is not what is the worth of a man or a woman, or what he or she can do but where he or she is from or what religious label he is wearing.
According to the acting president, Nigerians should emulate the legacy of the late General Muhammed, who even in his short reign, left indelible marks in the country.
Meanwhile, the Acting President yesterday paid an official visit to Rivers State in continuation of Federal Government’s dialogue with peoples of the Niger Delta.

In Port Harcourt, he declared that the zone required a new vision devoid of the prevailing unhappy circle of discontent that sometimes resulted in violence, vandalism and security response. He said that it was extremely discomforting that the Niger Delta region where he did his National Youths Service Corps 38 years ago was still grappling with the same challenges of underdevelopment and poverty.
He disclosed that the groundbreaking ceremony for the Integrated Contaminated Soil Management Centre provided for by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report will be performed on Thursday in Ogoni.
The acting president reassured the stakeholders that the Federal Government would continue the amnesty programme for ex-militants. In response, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike said he was in support of the 16-point agenda submitted by the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) to the Federal Government.
Osinbajo will also pay an official visit to Imo State today. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Sam Onwuemeodo in Owerri yesterday stated that the Acting President would inaugurate “one or two projects, out of more than two thousand verifiable projects” executed by the Governor Rochas Okorocha’s administration.

Culled from The Guardian newspaper