The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Christians

  • Nine dead in Kaduna Christians/Muslims clash

    Nine dead in Kaduna Christians/Muslims clash

    •El-Rufai orders arrest of culprits

    Nine persons reportedly died yesterday in a clash between Christian and Muslim youths in Kasuwan Magani, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    Many were injured and  several houses razed.

    There are conflicting reports on the cause of the crisis.

    But an eyewitness said a Christian girl was abducted, and taken to the home of the Sarkin Kasuwan Magani.

    Another version said Christian youths beat up their girls, who they suspect of dating Hausa Muslims.

    A source, Musa Auta, however, said that a Christian girl was beaten up by some Christian boys.

    He said the police, who responded to her mother’s report, were chased away and prevented from making arrests.

    Another witness, Ahmadu Dogo, said that attempts by Christian and Muslim youths to stop their girls from dating from either religion was the major cause of the violence.

    He said that nine persons died; many were injured and property burnt.

    The development forced residents, especially women and children, to flee to safety; motorists were stranded for hours.

    The Sole Administrator of Kajuru council, Aminu Rabiu, said: “Disagreement among the Christian and Muslim youths led to loss of lives, properties and peace. However, the quick response of the security agencies helped in restoring normalcy.

    “We have already evacuated the injured to the hospital and they are responding to treatment.”

    Rabiu appealed to residents to embrace the culture of living in peace and harmony.

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai has ordered that culprits be arrested and prosecuted.

    A statement by his media aide, Samuel Aruwan, condemned the violence and regrets the destruction of lives.

    The statement reads: “The government has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to take inventory of damages and provide relief materials.

    “Security forces have been deployed to contain the situation, protect life and property, and prevent any further breakdown of law and order”.

    Police spokesman Aliyu Mukhtar confirmed the incident but did not give a casualty figure.

    He said the situation had been brought under control and the police was assessing the damage.

  • Lent: Buhari urges Christians to Pray for Nigeria’s unity, progress

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday felicitated with Christians in Nigeria on the solemn occasion of the commencement of this year’s Lenten season.

    As they join their counterparts worldwide to emulate the worthy example of Jesus Christ who fasted 40 days at the beginning of His earthly ministry, the President urged Christian brothers and sisters to pray fervently for the country’s unity and progress.

    He believed that Nigeria’s existence as one united country is a divine arrangement and nothing should be done to put it asunder.

    President Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, enjoined all Nigerians to intensify love, brotherliness and concern for the less privileged members of their communities in order to strengthen the bond of togetherness.

    As Christians begin the period of increased prayers, piety, sacrifice and selfless services, the President wished them and all Nigerians well.

  • Fix Nigeria, Kaigama urges Christians

    Fix Nigeria, Kaigama urges Christians

    Chairman of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, yesterday enjoined well-meaning Nigerians to get involved in task of building the nation.

    He said they shouldn’t sit on the fence but engage in efforts to fix the socio-economic challenges facing the nation.

    Kaigama spoke at the 5th convocation ceremony of Godfrey-Okoye University, an Enugu based Catholic University.

    He said: “The recent turn of events in our country calls for serious action and concern for all of us.

    “We cannot throw our hands and let violence, corruption, ethnocentrism, bad leadership, political recklessness and other vices prevail.

    “Beyond mere talk and analysis, we must be part of the decision-making process of our Nation. Do not sit on the fence. “Be involved. If you have the opportunity, register and vote in the upcoming elections.”

    The Chancellor of the institution commended the speed of progress at the university, saying it is known today as one of the fastest growing private universities in Nigeria.

    The Vice Chancellor of the University, Rev. Prof. Christian Anieke, announced that a total of 324 graduates were part of the 5th convocation ceremony.

    Nine of them, according to him, scored First Class Honours, 126 Second Class Honours (Upper Division), 149 Second Class Honours (Lower Division) and 40 Third Class Honours.

    The Vice Chancellor disclosed the National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the Faculty of law of the University.

    He announced the readiness to move the university to its permanent site at Ugwuomu Nike in the next academic session in 2019.

     

     

     

  • Participate actively in politics, clergy advises Christians

    The General Superin-tendent and Supreme Head, Sacred C&S Church Nig. & Overseas and  (Olori) C & S Unification Church Worldwide, His Most Eminence, Prophet (Dr.) Solomon Adegboyega Alao, The Baba Alakoso Imole 1, has urged all Christians in Nigeria to be actively involved in politics to ward off corrupt and unpatriotic elements from the polity.

    The cleric made this statement at a pre-conference press briefing to commemorate the 88th Annual General Conference of the Sacred Cherubim & Seraphim Church which took place at The Sacred C&S Church The Holy Mount of Salvation Model Parish, Surulere at the weekend. “Be registered and get your PVC and vote wisely to influence polity, stop saying politics is dirty, go there and cleanse the polity, those not in partisan politics should vote right,” he admonished.

    Speaking about the clamour for restructuring, the cleric urged the federal government to be sincere enough to restructure the constitutional framework. “The only panacea to future disaster relies on restructuring of constitution, restructure the structure, devolution of power from the centre to the states, going back to constitutional federalism. I believe in the interest of both the led and the leadership, the only viable option is restructuring the structures by transferring a lot of powers to the states.

     

    “Various challenges facing our country seem to be multiplying and not abating. We still have the Boko Haram insurgency on killing mission virtually on daily basis. Kidnapping, never heard of in Africa, has joined the bandwagon of our problems. Religious killings and persecutions, especially seemingly of Christian faith is gradually getting out of control. As if the foregoing are not enough, the Fulani herdsmen are now on the rampage,” he lamented.

     

     

  • Cleric urges modesty among Christians

    The president, Praise Arena-Kingdom Light Christian Centre, Pastor Jimmy Adetoyese Olagunju, has charged Christians to celebrate Christmas by living out the life of Jesus in their daily endeavour.

    Olagunju stated this in an interview with The Nation, at the church’s Christmas Carol  held last Sunday at LE-REAl Hotel, VGC, Lekki, Lagos.

    The event tagged Unending Joy in Jesus featured song renditions, bible teaching, prayer, special ministration from Praise Arena Choir and other A list gospel singers.

    He said that Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth and sacrifice of Jesus for the redemption of mankind from sin, sickness and evil but the effect of Jesus’ love to mankind will be lost if his children are not living out the life of Jesus within their environment.

    He lamented that many have turned Christmas to mere entertainment and funfair and have forgotten that Christmas does not come with celebration alone but with sober reflection about the way we live our lives.

    The cleric said: “Jesus is the reason for Christmas as Christmas reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world and that each of us should light the world as He does.”

    He stressed that the world will be a better place if Christians live the life of honesty, trust, integrity, love and patience which are virtues that characterise Jesus Christ.

    He added that the division that has pervaded the Nigeria society will be a thing of the past if all of God’s children take a cue from Jesus who when he was reviled, abused, scorned, persecuted, did not revile.

    He went further to charged the church to strive to lift up others, promote tolerance and inclusiveness, fairness and justice and hope for the poor and the downtrodden in the society.

    Olagunju added that the message of the Kingdom will expand and spread round the world if smiles are brought to the downtrodden, neglected, and the vulnerable.

  • Aisha Buhari donates to Christians

    Aisha Buhari donates to Christians

    Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, has donated food items to Christians in Abuja.

    A statement by her Director of Information, Suleiman Haruna, said the items were donated at ECWA Church, Garki.

    Mrs. Buhari, who was represented by wife of Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Gimbiya Dogara, was accompanied by Dame Pauline Tallen, former deputy governor of Plateau State.

    The items donated include rice, macaroni, spaghetti, noodles, semolina and other assorted items.

    The items were received by the church representatives, led by CAN FCT Chairman, Rev. Samson Jonah, and that of the North Central, Rev. Dr. Israel Akanji.

  • ISIS threatens U.S. over Jerusalem decision

    ISIS threatens U.S. over Jerusalem decision

    Islamic State of Iraq and Syria ( ISIS )has threatened attacks on U.S. soil in retaliation for the Trump administration’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

    One of the group’s social media accounts reported on Thursday without much details on one of its accounts on the Telegram instant messaging service titled: “Wait for us” and “ISIS in Manhattan”.

    The group said that it would carry out operations and showed images of New York’s Times Square and what appeared to be an explosive bomb belt and detonator.

    “We will do more ops in your land, until the final hour and we will burn you with the flames of war which you started in Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Syria and Afghan. Just you wait.

    “The recognition of your dog ‘Trump’ (sic) Jerusalem as the capital of Israel will make us recognise explosives as the capital of your country,” it said.

    Washington triggered widespread anger and protests across the Arab world with its decision on Jerusalem.

    The disputed city is revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike, and is home to Islam’s third holiest site.

    It has been at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades.

    Read also: UAE urges Arabs, Muslims to unite over U.S decision on Jerusalem

    Islamic State was driven out of its Iraqi and Syrian capitals this year and squeezed into a shrinking pocket of desert straddling the border between the two countries.

    The forces fighting Islamic State in Iraq and Syria now expect a new phase of guerrilla warfare there.

    Militants including people claiming allegiance to Islamic State have carried out scores of deadly attacks in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the U.S. over the past two years.

    NAN

  • Kaduna CAN urges Christians, Muslims to shun religious bigotry

    Kaduna CAN urges Christians, Muslims to shun religious bigotry

    The Christian Association of Nigeria( CAN ), Kaduna Chapter, has urged Muslims and Christians to shun religious bigotry so as to  make Nigeria a greater country in the comity of nations.

    The Secretary of the chapter, Rev. Sunday Ibrahim, made the call when he received gift items donated by some  advocates of inter-faith harmony led by Hajiya Maryam Abubakar in Kaduna on Tuesday.

    He commended the initiative of Hajiya Maryam and her colleagues, saying that it would go a long way toward promoting religious harmony in Kaduna State in particular and the entire country.

    “We are really grateful seeing Muslim women coming to the CAN’s  Secretariat to donate Christmas gifts.

    “This is really impressive and these are some of the ways to boost religious tolerance and better understanding between Muslims and Christian.

    “ We must join hands together in tackling religious extremism and promote forgiveness, peace and unity among all the people of Nigeria,” he said.

    Read also: Gowon, Dogara task Northern Christians on unity, love

    Earlier, a group of Muslim women under the aegis of ‘Ambassadors of Peace’ donated gifts including Christmas trees and Santa Claus caps to CAN in the spirit of the yuletide season.

    Speaking at the presentation of the items, Abubakar said the donation was part of their contribution toward promoting peace, harmony, love, togetherness and inter-religious tolerance in a multi-religious society such as Kaduna State.

    Abubakar said their visit to the CAN secretariat was aimed at strengthening inter-religious tolerance and promoting understanding among adherents of  different faiths in the state.

    The peace ambassador said: “We are from one family under God because Adam and Eve were our original biological parents and we, as Muslims believe in the Bible and love Jesus Christ too.

    “Christmas season is a period of joy and happiness to every Christian all over the world and we, as Muslims decided to donate some Christmas trees and Father Christmas caps to CAN leaders in the state.

    “This is to promote good relationship with our neighbours in view of the fact that Christians are our good friends and neighbours.”

    According to her, it is not the first time she and her colleagues are donating Christmas gifts to churches in Kaduna for the purpose of enhancing religious tolerance and peace building.

    “Two years ago, we fed about 500 Christian inmates in the spirit of Christmas and New Year celebration in Kaduna prison.

    “We fed them in the spirit of togetherness and to join them in celebrating the birth of our noble Jesus Christ.

    “We want them to have a good taste of food with beef different from what they were offered inside the prison,” she added.

    In her remark, another member of the group, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani said: “Christians are our best friends and we choose to come to CAN to donate these items this time because we believe that CAN is the mother of all Christian bodies.

    “We came today to say `Merry Christmas to all our brothers and sisters who are  Christians all over the world, and Happy New Year in advance.

    “We want to maintain this kind of peaceful co-existence between Christians and Muslims in the state in order for us to team up and  nd all forms of ethno-religious and political crises bedevilling peace and stability in the northern part of the country.”

    She also advocated the establishment of an institute of comparative religious studies which, according to her, can proffer solutions to ethno-religious crises in the country.

    NAN

  • ‘Ondo didn’t stop Christians from using its centre’

    The Ondo State government has denied a report that it denied members of the Niger Delta Christian Leaders Forum (NDCLF) from using the state-owned International Culture Event Centre, the DOME, in Akure, the state capital, for its programmes.

    Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu made the clarification yesterday while hosting members of the Nigeria Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), led by their President, Bishop Felix Omobude.

    PFN members are in the in the state for their annual national conference.

    Akeredolu, who was represented by his deputy, Agboola Ajayi, said the event centre had been booked for the second Niger Delta Summit the state hosted at the time NDCLF approached its management to also use it.

    The governor recalled that the week-long Niger Delta Summit was declared open by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    He said the state government could give out the M. K. O. Abiola Democracy Park in Akure for free since the DOME had been occupied.

    Akeredolu wondered why the matter became an issue for the media, that the government denied Christians from using the event centre.

    The governor reiterated his commitment to ensuring peaceful coexistence among religious leaders and bodies in the state.

    He urged religious leaders to continue to pray for the nation’s unity, adding that their prayers had kept the country together.

    Omobude said he was in the state in continuation of PFN’s tour of all the states of the federation to preach peace and pray for the people and the government.

  • Christians partner UNICEF to end violence against children

    The Council of Christians in Nigeria (CCN) has kickstarted its weeklong sensitisation awareness on ending violence against children in Lagos, Cross River, Gombe and Plateau state.

    The programme, from September 18 till September 24, is holding in partnership with United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

    Funded by the European Union and United States AID for Development, it features rallies, engagement with political and government personalities, prayers and worship.

    CCN’s National President Rev Benebob Furaba-Manuel spoke yesterday at a press conference organised by the group at its headquarters in Surulere, Lagos.

    Furaba-Manuel said ‘’the programme is aimed at raising 50 million of our members to speak out and work towards ending the menace of violence against children across Nigeria’’.

    He said violence against children is on the rise in the country, adding that ‘’one in three children suffers from one form of violence or the other.’’

    The national president noted that the plight of children is a reality often relegated to the background by governments and religious communities, partly because children cannot speak out, and partly because of the ignorance of today’s leadership in the church and society.

    Furaba-Manuel said: “We regret this as Christians and affirm, rather, that care for children is no mere addition to our creed, but is an essential dimension to our being and calling as the people of God.

    “We are, therefore, not satisfied only with providing Sunday School spaces for our children and giving knowledge to them, but we commit directly, personally and communally, to their lives as parents and establishing institutions to allow them flourish in all ways – spiritually, physically, sexually and psychologically,”, he said.

    He went on: “We name violence against children as a real evil confronting our country and the world. It is an evil happenning right under our nose as parents, family, and religious people, traditional and political leaders”, he said.

    UNICEF’s representative from the Child Protection Unit Mr. Chris Onoise said UNICEF was partnering CCN because violence against children is a social norm with vary socio-cultural and religious dimension.