Churches destroyed in wave of religious violence in Nigeria
Posted: Saturday, February 9, 2008, 13:08 (GMT)
Around 1000 people were displaced, several critically wounded, and every church reportedly destroyed in Shira Yana, Bauchi State, Nigeria on 2 February 2008. This is the latest in a series of recent incidents of religious violence in northern and central Shari'ah states, reports Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
The violence erupted after a young woman was accused of blaspheming against the prophet Mohammed. According to local sources, the young woman had spurned the advances of a young Muslim man on the previous day. In a last effort the man appealed to her to speak to him "in the name of the Messenger" to which she responded that she knew no messenger.
On the following morning the youth attacked her house accompanied by a crowd, claiming that she had blasphemed against the prophet Mohammed. When the girl fled to a police station for protection, a pursuing mob proceeded to set fire to the building. Policemen responded by firing live ammunition, killing a young man in his 20s and triggering a rampage in which police and Christians were attacked and their homes and churches destroyed.
Tension is also mounting in Kano State, where around 200 Shari'ah police or Hisbah were reported to have patrolled the streets of the Christian area of Sabon Gari in Kano City during the evening of 1 February. They were armed with an array of crude weaponry, including bows, arrows, sticks and machetes.
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The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Thursday, February 21, 2008, 9:51 (GMT)
Dear Ebong, I think you may have misunderstood what I believe Abimael meant. To go out to Nigeria is to stand alongside our Brothers and Sisters in Christ, and not to fight. Jesus said His Kingdom is not of this world, therefore Christians should not use earthly weapons. He also said that we must love our 'enemies' (i.e. those who are against us). John 18 v 36 and Matthew 5 v 44. Abimael, you can stand with them in prayer (2 Cor 10 v 4, Hebrews 13 v3) and don't need to be physically there.
Andy H, England
Added: Saturday, February 16, 2008, 22:10 (GMT)
God is in the control of everything in this World we live in, and as Christians, true disciples of Jesus, we have got to be ready for any kind of pression and persecution. However, I'm deeply sorry for such a big loss! May all our brothers in Christ Jeusus be in rest now awaiting for the HIS return! Anyway, I think I'm ready to GO FORTH to Nigeria! And I say: Here I am, Lord! Send me!!!
Be blessed,
Abimael Pereira
Abimael M. Pereira, Belém (Brazil)
Added: Monday, February 11, 2008, 8:10 (GMT)
I fully support what Okoronwo has said. Concerning religion, the GOD (ALLAH) we worship is believed to has the power to destry you at wish, then why go and kill others in the name of religion.
Ebong, London, UK
Added: Saturday, February 9, 2008, 21:17 (GMT)
It`s realy a pity that at this time and age people of Nigeria cannot co-exist just because of religion.Sometimes I tend to think that it is because of illitracy and lack of exposure otherwise nothing can come between two brothers to an extent of killing each other.Religion was there before we were born and it is going to be there when we have all died,it makes no sense fighting because of it GOD(ALLAH) is so great and so powerful that he can kill anybody whom he deems it fit to kill and not for us to do the killing.And Iam not saying that one should insult the religion of the other there should be respect and freedom of worship in our individual religions and no religion should think itself more superior than the other.In the case of Sharia law,I dont think it is very appropriate to practice a different law appart from the law in the constitution of the fedral republic of Nigeria.Nigeria as I know it is a circular state and as such no law of a particular religion should superinpose that of the law of the land.If supreme court ruled that there should be no sharia law I dont know why it should be mention talkless of effecting it to the people.We should all be wise and learn from other peoples mistakes.
J.C.OKONKWO, amsterdam netherlands
