Newsbreak: Protesters attack Churches in Katsina, steal property stolen

By Usman Disu, Katsina

Protesters armed with cudgels have attacked Churches in Katsina, the home state of former President Mohammadu Buhari.

The attack undermine Church services scheduled for Sunday (today)

Sources told Irohinoodua that the mostly young men in hundreds went after Churches in sigh burning and looting.

An Islamic leader who does not wish to be named told Irohinoodua that the hoodlums were not representing the Islamic faith.

He said “These are criminals hiding under the nationwide protests to commit crime and steal from faith based groups.”

He said he was certain security operatives would nab them.

Some of the Churches attacked were the Living Faith Church located in Daura Local Government Area

The hoodlums stormed the Church steal property and damaged the newly renovated Church building.

The protesters also attacked the Deeper Life Church and Anglican Church.

Eye witnesses said the crooks used Keke Naped to convey the property stolen from the Churches.

Pastor David Jatau Sarki of the Living Faith Church, confirmed the attack on the church premises in a chat with Vanguard Newspapers.

He said “It happened around 10; 00 am on the first day of the protest. The hoodlums many of them in Keke Nappe ( Triacircle), chased the church’s security guard away, broke the door and windows, and entered the auditorium.
They parked and destroyed everything inside the Church auditorium, including the pulpits.

Property stolen included were “three Plasma TV used for displaying church programmes, musical instruments, over 205 plastic chairs, pastor’s chairs, a desktop computer at the reception and a digital clock as well as a scoreboard where the accountant usually kept the church’s documents.”

Pastor Jato said
“This is unacceptable and must be condemned.”

He spoke further “We’ve informed the police and the Army about it, and the police told us yesterday that they have made some arrests.”

Former Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Katsina, Rev. Nelson Onyekachuku told Vanguard that “the government needs to address these issues and ensure the protection of places of worship.”