The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Worshippers

  • Six killed in soldiers, worshippers clash in Southern Kaduna

    A clash  between some military men and some worshippers in Southern Kaduna yesterday led to the death of no fewer than six people. Many others were injured.

    The soldiers allegedly shot  security guards of St. Peters Catholic Church Gidan-Waya area of Jama’a local government in Kaduna State who mounted a temporary stop and search check point in front of their church during service.

    According to a man who simply identified himself as Christopher, a residence of Gidan-Waya, “the clash occured at about 10am when church service was on. A soldier approched the church’s watch men popularly known as Cadet and ordered them to dismantle the temporary check point during the church service, but the boys refused the order on the argument that church service was ongoing and that they would do as soon as service was over, but the soldier was dissatisfied with the explanation.

    The soldier reportedly went back and mobilised his colleagues who came and started firing at the local guards.

    “The gunshots ended the church service. Women and youths immediately reacted to the shooting by confronting the soldiers as a result of which one Soldier and three civilians were injured,” said Christopher.

    The situation led to a clash between residents and soldiers.

    Another eye witness said a block of flat at a staff quarters belonging to Kaduna State college of Education Gidan- Waya occupied by the military personnel, was burnt with two guns carted away.

    According to a resident who identified himself as Bulbs Jatau: “Six people were killed, a flat occupied by some army personnel burnt while many people were injured.”

    Similarly, a lecturer at the college who pleaded anonymity said a 200-level student was among the people killed by bullets.

    “A soldier has a motorcycle he uses as a means of transportion. The cadet boys manning the Church during Mass had told him that each time there is Church programme, he should not increase the acceleration of his motorcycle but he refused to abide by what the boys told him.

    “Today, he was passing during church Mass and the road was closed. He started shouting at the boys asking why they blocked the road, as the argument was ongoing, he returned to a check-point and mobilised other army personnel and they came shooting.

    “As they were shooting, a certain man coming back from another church was hit by the bullet and he died instantly. One of the cadet boys was shot but he died at a hospital,” said the lecture.

    Another eyes witness said youth and women of the community were protesting naked, mobile policemen were mobilised from Kafanchan shot tear-gas to disperse the protesters.

    “The incident also turned violent as four people also dropped dead when the protesters blocked all roads leading to Abuja, Jos and Kafanchan in protest of the killing. All the checkpoints in the area have been dismantled and the military men have been withdrawn to Kafanchan. The soldiers have told the traditional ruler that they will come back in the night to search for their guns,” another resident told our correspondent.

    Spokesman of the 1 Mechanised Division, Kaduna, Col. Abdul Usman did not respond to calls and text message as at the time of filling this report.

    Survivors of the clash are receiving medical attention at a State General Hospital.

  • Soldiers shoot worshippers in Kaduna , kill six

    Soldiers on guard in troubled Southern Kaduna, on Sunday allegedly opened fire on Church workers killing six and injuring three others.

    The Soldiers allegedly shot watchmen of St. Peters Catholic Church Gidan-Waya area of Jama’a local government who had mounted a temporary stop and search check point in front of their Church as service was on in the morning.

    According to Christopher, a resident of Gidan-Waya ” It all started when a Soldier who has been in the area went to the Church’s watch men popularly known as Cadet and ordered them to dismantle the temporary check point during the Church service. The boys refused the Soldier’s order on the excuse that Church service was on and that they will do so as soon as service is over.
    ” But dissatisfied with the explanation, the Soldier went back and mobilised his other colleagues who came and started firing at the local guards.

    “The gunshot automatically ended the church service. Women and youths immediately reacted to the shooting by confronting the soldiers and as a result one soldier and three other civilians got wounded,” said Christopher.

    The situation led to a serious clashed between residents and the army personnel.

  • Gunmen open fire on worshippers in Kaduna

    One person was killed and several others injured when unknown gunmen opened fire on worshippers during Sunday service at a Catholic Church in Ungwar Pau-Pau in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    The incident happened in the early hours of yesterday when the gunmen invaded the church during the service, shooting sporadically.

    Eyewitness said one of the youth guarding the church was killed. Several others injured are reportedly receiving treatment at various hospitals in the area.

    Kachia experienced a religious clash in May, 2014, following destruction of a fence on a land owned by the state government. Muslims in Kachia use the land as Eid prayer ground.

    Many people were killed during the incidents, while churches and mosques were also burnt.

    In yesterday’s attack, the eyewitness said:”They came with sophisticated weapons shooting and one person died instantly while several others injured have been admitted at various hospitals. Church Mass was ongoing when the gunmen came and started shooting.”

    Another resident, Mr. Timothy Gomel, said: “Military personnel came and asked some of our youths to lead them to where the attackers retreated through. As I am talking to you, they are combing the bush.”

    Though Chairman of Kachia Local Government, Peter Agite could not be reached as at the time of going to the press, his deputy, Alfred Alfred confirmed the incident to reporters.

  • When worshippers defied rain to mark Ifa Festival

    When worshippers defied rain to mark Ifa Festival

    The heavens opened.  But it was not enough to discourage the people as hundreds of Ifa worshippers gathered at the playground of the Government Technical College, Abule Ado, off Badagry Expressway, Lagos to mark the 2014 edition of Ifa Festival.

    The all-white attire adorned by majority of the people and their determination to remain undaunted in the face of the challenge posed by the rain combined to ensure the success of the event, the grand finale of the 2014 edition of Ifa Festival organized by  the Olokun Festival Foundation.

    The festival is one of the many other festivals conceptualized by the Otunba Gani Adams-led foundation as part of the efforts to restore the glory of Yoruba cultural heritage.

    One very important message witnessed at the event was the beauty of religious harmony among Nigerians. To open the day, the three major religions in the country offered special prayers that gave the event an atmosphere of beauty.

    Clad in a flowing snow white lace material with his abetiaja cap to match, Adams, for the first time ever, according to him, made public the story behind his undying love for white attire.

    Speaking on his worship of Ifa, Adams said: “If I had not consulted Ifa on the insistence of Musendiku Shina in Abeokuta, I would not have known that the colour that rhythms with my star is white. I would still have been in the dark, wearing all sorts of colours. But since then,I have stuck to my white and I am seeing the result. That is the story you have not heard before about my wearing white clothing.”

    The OPC leader stated that Ifa prophesied that he would come out of the crisis a more famous person whose fame would transcend the shores of Nigeria nay Africa and even beyond.

    “And to my surprise, the prophecy came to pass as we are all a living witness today. Why I am saying this is to tell you that Ifa is the spiritual eye of man. Whoever refuses to believe this is not only losing, he or she is moving about unguarded,” he said.

    Considering the public apathy to tradition, owing to the influence of Islam and Christianity, Adams is, however, excited. He is glad for the global recognition lately extended to the Ifa divination with a specific reference to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), which, according to him, added the Ifa Divination System to its list of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

    He said Ifa guided the founders of Yoruba towns and communities before they settled.

    “It is, therefore, not a surprise that these towns have flourished over the years, and I can tell you that they will continue to flourish according to what Ifa predicted long before they were established,” he said.

    The guest speaker, a lecturer in the Yoruba Department of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Ibrahim Adebiyi, commended Adams for his positive attitude to Yoruba culture and tradition.

    Adebiyi shocked the audience with his theory, suggesting that the inventors of computer had Ifa in mind when putting together the components making up the system. The university don highlighted some significance of Ifa to humanity and the need to accord it respect by the Yoruba.

    “Whoever is sincere with Ifa will be prosperous because Ifa symbolizes the truth. Ifa would not mislead. Rather it would  clear a way for one to escape difficulty. Ifa solves problems more than any other thing,” he said.

    The speech of the Yeye-Osun of Lagos, Chief Mojirayo Fafunke Olagbaju, came with a drama of sort to the delight of the audience who responded with occasional ovation. She showered praise on Adams whom she branded his adopted son and leader deserving her total support.

    Going down memory lane, Yeye-Osun recalled the struggle period when Adams was facing what she called persecution.

    “I said to myself that I must stand by him and see him through to shame his enemies. In the end, I was vindicated. Since then, I have never looked back because he has proved to be a leader to follow. I was scheduled to attend a function at Badagry today, but when I got his message, I had to send my children to that place and come to attend the festival.

    “Ifa festival we are celebrating today is part of our heritage which we must hold dearly. I have no regret doing my traditional religion, and I will never have any reason to regret it,” she said, revealing that her daughter is already learning the rope preparatory to taking after her.

    Also present on the occasion was the duo of Baba Orisha of Lagos, Chief Goke Atiku and Chief Agbeloba Orisatuwaji, who mocked that nothing compared to their traditional faith with a veiled reference to the contemporary religions.

    ”We are saying this because Ifa does not encourage deceit that is common elsewhere. It is our own and we shall hold it dearly,” they said unanimously.

  • When worshippers defied rain to mark Ifa Festival

    When worshippers defied rain to mark Ifa Festival

    The heavens opened.  But it was not enough to discourage the people as hundreds of Ifa worshippers gathered at the playground of the Government Technical College, Abule Ado, off Badagry Expressway, Lagos to mark the 2014 edition of Ifa Festival.

    The all-white attire adorned by majority of the people and their determination to remain undaunted in the face of the challenge posed by the rain combined to ensure the success of the event, the grand finale of the 2014 edition of Ifa Festival organized by  the Olokun Festival Foundation.

    The festival is one of the many other festivals conceptualized by the Otunba Gani Adams-led foundation as part of the efforts to restore the glory of Yoruba cultural heritage.

    One very important message witnessed at the event was the beauty of religious harmony among Nigerians. To open the day, the three major religions in the country offered special prayers that gave the event an atmosphere of beauty.

    Clad in a flowing snow white lace material with his abetiaja cap to match, Adams, for the first time ever, according to him, made public the story behind his undying love for white attire.

    Speaking on his worship of Ifa, Adams said: “If I had not consulted Ifa on the insistence of Musendiku Shina in Abeokuta, I would not have known that the colour that rhythms with my star is white. I would still have been in the dark, wearing all sorts of colours. But since then,I have stuck to my white and I am seeing the result. That is the story you have not heard before about my wearing white clothing.”

    The OPC leader stated that Ifa prophesied that he would come out of the crisis a more famous person whose fame would transcend the shores of Nigeria nay Africa and even beyond.

    “And to my surprise, the prophecy came to pass as we are all a living witness today. Why I am saying this is to tell you that Ifa is the spiritual eye of man. Whoever refuses to believe this is not only losing, he or she is moving about unguarded,” he said.

    Considering the public apathy to tradition, owing to the influence of Islam and Christianity, Adams is, however, excited. He is glad for the global recognition lately extended to the Ifa divination with a specific reference to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), which, according to him, added the Ifa Divination System to its list of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

    He said Ifa guided the founders of Yoruba towns and communities before they settled.

    “It is, therefore, not a surprise that these towns have flourished over the years, and I can tell you that they will continue to flourish according to what Ifa predicted long before they were established,” he said.

    The guest speaker, a lecturer in the Yoruba Department of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Ibrahim Adebiyi, commended Adams for his positive attitude to Yoruba culture and tradition.

    Adebiyi shocked the audience with his theory, suggesting that the inventors of computer had Ifa in mind when putting together the components making up the system. The university don highlighted some significance of Ifa to humanity and the need to accord it respect by the Yoruba.

    “Whoever is sincere with Ifa will be prosperous because Ifa symbolizes the truth. Ifa would not mislead. Rather it would  clear a way for one to escape difficulty. Ifa solves problems more than any other thing,” he said.

    The speech of the Yeye-Osun of Lagos, Chief Mojirayo Fafunke Olagbaju, came with a drama of sort to the delight of the audience who responded with occasional ovation. She showered praise on Adams whom she branded his adopted son and leader deserving her total support.

    Going down memory lane, Yeye-Osun recalled the struggle period when Adams was facing what she called persecution.

    “I said to myself that I must stand by him and see him through to shame his enemies. In the end, I was vindicated. Since then, I have never looked back because he has proved to be a leader to follow. I was scheduled to attend a function at Badagry today, but when I got his message, I had to send my children to that place and come to attend the festival.

    “Ifa festival we are celebrating today is part of our heritage which we must hold dearly. I have no regret doing my traditional religion, and I will never have any reason to regret it,” she said, revealing that her daughter is already learning the rope preparatory to taking after her.

    Also present on the occasion was the duo of Baba Orisha of Lagos, Chief Goke Atiku and Chief Agbeloba Orisatuwaji, who mocked that nothing compared to their traditional faith with a veiled reference to the contemporary religions.

    ”We are saying this because Ifa does not encourage deceit that is common elsewhere. It is our own and we shall hold it dearly,” they said unanimously.

  • Worshippers hand over Nigeria to God

    Worshippers hand over Nigeria to God

    orshippers in Abuja prayed yesterday for God’s intervention in Nigeria’s numerous challenges and wisdom for its leaders at church services to usher in the new year.

    •Kukah urges inmate to embrace education

    In many of the churches visited by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the eve of the New Year, the faithful sang praises to God and prayed for Nigeria, its people and leaders.

    At the ECWA Church in Wuse II, the faithful praised God with songs and read Bible passages.

    In an interview, the senior pastor of the Church, Rev. Barje Maigadi, assured Nigerians of God’s love for Nigeria. He predicted that God had designated the year to address the numerous challenges confronting the economy and the people of Nigeria. Maigadi called on politicians and Nigerian leaders to work for the good of the people by raising their standard of living. He said that God would use Nigerians to improve on the economy and make things better.

    The clergyman urged Nigerians to continue to persevere and imbibe the habit of togetherness and care in 2013.

    Also in Abuja at the Breakthrough Chapel in Area 11, Garki District, Bishop Ben Oruma said the year held great promises for Nigeria but urged the people to work hard and pray for God’s intervention in the nation’s affairs.

    At the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Area 1, worshippers prayed for members of the church and the country. Pastor Dele Babade, the pastor in-charge of Province 4 of RCCG, urged political leaders to be united, irrespective of their religious and political affiliations.

    Babade said there was no need for bickering among politicians, stressing that division among politicians would not encourage development. He urged the leadership of the country to be more sincere with their programmes of alleviating poverty and improving the economy. He urged all Nigerians irrespective of their backgrounds, to work harder in the new year.

    Babade called on the Federal Government to initiate measures to dialogue with aggrieved groups in parts of the country in the interest of peace and unity. He predicted a more prosperous and fulfilling year in 2013. The story was the same at the All Christian Fellowship Mission, Maitama as the faithful praised and worshipped God at the traditional crossover service.

    Worshippers were excited at the service conducted by the General Overseer of the church, Rev. Williams Okoye.

    Rev. Okoye said although the situation in the country was frightening, God is in control and would intervene at the appointed time.

    He said God was on the side of Nigerians and added that no situation was insurmountable or too difficult for Him to handle.

    NAN reports that loud noises of praises were heard from most of the churches in the city centre and beyond as worshippers celebrated the New Year.

    The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Hassan Kukah, yesterday advised prison inmates to acquire western education to enable them contribute to national growth after their terms.

    Kukah gave the advice in Sokoto during a visit to the Sokoto Central Prison where he distributed food and soft drinks to the inmates to mark the new year.

    “The prison is not the end of your life, some of you can still make it in life; just be focused and seek western education and cooperate with the prison officials,” he said. “ You can be president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, governors and members of the National Assembly, if only you are ready to seek for knowledge to enable you to contribute positively towards the nation’s political growth,” he said. He called on them to take the advantage of the skill acquisition centres to learn various trades. Kukah said the era of waiting for government to do everything for citizens was over, hence the need for self reliance. “ We have all that it takes to be one of the top developed nations in the world, if we can tap the abundant human and mineral resources available at our disposal, “ he said. Kukah promised to settle the fines of some of the inmates to enable them to regain their freedom.