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Cathedral and churches burned in Nigeria as angry Muslims riot in Dutse:

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Published: 00:00 GMT Daylight Time - Friday 22 September 2006

Cathedral and churches burned in Nigeria as angry Muslims riot in Dutse:

Project(s): 39-639

Country/Region: NIGERIA

Barnabas Fund launches an appeal

Christians have again come under attack by mobs of angry Muslims in Northern Nigeria. The rioting apparently started following an allegation that a Christian woman had made insulting comments about Muhammad.

On 19th September in the city of Dutse, in the northern Nigerian state of Jigawa, a mob of Muslim youths set upon the Christian minority in the city. St. Peter's Anglican Cathedral was burnt to the ground and the Bishop's office destroyed. Initial reports speak of between 4 and 10 other churches as well as shops, vehicles and homes belonging to Christians having been set ablaze. There are believed to be 15 churches locally, so 10 would amount to two-thirds of all the churches in the area. Several people were injured. According to some reports the state governor was himself attacked when he tried to calm the mob and was hurriedly taken away from the area. The mob was only quelled when hundreds of heavily armed police belatedly began to patrol the city.

The context of the Pope's speech

The Muslim world was already uproar in response to a quotation about jihad cited by Pope Benedict XVI on 12th September. There have been attacks against Christians in the Palestinian territories, Somalia and Iraq. See other article - [Link]

There have also been many verbal protests. The Islamic cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi, a so-called moderate who had justified violence in the past, called for today 22nd September to be a "day of rational anger" across the world and warned Muslims not to attack churches. Sadly his warning against violence does not seem to have been heeded.

Meanwhile, certain Muslim leaders and groups have issued further statements showing a violent intent. The Ansar al-Sunna group in Iraq called the Pope a "stupid pig" and a "blasphemer", and urged Muslims to do more than just protest. Al-Qaeda in Iraq publicly threatened Christians saying, "We will destroy the cross - then all that will be accepted will be conversion or the sword (death). May God enable us to slit their throats, and make their money and descendants the bounty of the mujahideen (those who engage in jihad)."Barnabas Fund's International Director, Dr Patrick Sookhdeo commented,

"Muslims are always saying that Islam is a religion of peace. But many Christians in the Muslim world know differently. For them, Islam has been and remains a religion which metes out violence. Otherwise, why should Islam's followers attack and destroy them so often? Muslims must have the courage now to address this part of their faith and stop these attacks on Christians."

Aid for victims of Dutse rioting

Barnabas Fund is launching an appeal to help the Christian victims of the Dutse rioting. Nigerian church leaders say the immediate needs are for food and clothing. Later it will be necessary to rebuild churches and homes which have been destroyed.

Please click this [Link] to donate online using our secure server. (Please quote project reference 39-639 when you send your gift.)

If you prefer to telephone, dial:

0800 587 4006 from within the UK or +44 1672 565031 from outside the UK.(Please quote project reference 39-639 when you send your gift.)
If you prefer to send a cheque by post, click this [Link] for addresses of our regional offices and to print a donation page. (Please quote project reference 39-639 when you send your gift.)

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christian, persecution, charity, church, persecuted, sookhdeo, Islam

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  • Atrocities against Christians in Nigeria continue unabated. In Mubi, Adamawa state, various churches were attacked at the beginning of February; eight Christians were killed and three church buildings and a number of homes set ablaze. The violence drove Christians to stay at home after dark and to keep away from services. A month later, in Sheka, Kano state, 13 Christian factory workers were shot dead. In January a sheikh who claimed to be a commander of the militant Islamist group Boko Haram declared a ceasefire on its behalf, but in March a video was circulated in which one of its leaders, Abubakar Shekau, denied that it had made a truce with anyone. Pray that the Lord will be a wall of fire around His people (Zechariah 2:5) as they face such desperate dangers. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed 4 hours ago

  • On 20 January 2013 the Eritrean security police raided the homes of various Christians and arrested 50 people. One of them was a lady of 85, detained for hosting an underground church in her house. They joined hundreds of other believers currently held in Eritrean prisons, some of them in appalling conditions. Many more have fled the country to escape the persecution and have ended up in prison in Egypt, where they have been subjected to rape, beatings and starvation. Pray for all those Eritrean Christians suffering for their faith in their own country and beyond, that the Lord will be their help and shield (Psalm 33:20). Pray too for a prison ministry, supported by Barnabas, that visits and helps Eritrean Christians jailed in Egypt. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed Fri, May 2013 00:00

  • Pray for the families of Abdoulaye and Abakachi, two converts from Islam to Christianity who were shot dead by Islamists in northern Cameroon. They were travelling with two other converts around Lake Chad on 19 February when their vehicle was stopped by four armed men who were looking for Abdoulaye. He was the leader of the converts from the Kotoko people group and had last year received a threat from militant Islamist group Boko Haram. The gunmen opened fire, killing Abakachi on the spot. Abdoulaye and another man were also shot; Abdoulaye later died of his injuries. He left a wife and 13 children; Abakachi left a wife and four children. Boko Haram had previously warned all Christian converts in northern Cameroon to return to Islam or “face Allah’s wrath”. Pray that the Lord will protect these vulnerable believers. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed Thu, May 2013 00:00

  • Give thanks to the Lord for the courage and boldness of the Christians in North Korea who carry on witnessing for Christ despite the savage penalties imposed by the Communist regime. Those who share their faith or distribute Bibles risk torture and probable execution if they are caught, and their families may be dispatched to the country’s infamous labour camps to be starved or worked to death. Yet remarkably, the Church in North Korea is growing well, and some who have fled abroad and become Christians there have even gone back to share Christ with family and friends in their poverty and distress. Pray that God will keep His brave witnesses from harm and continue to add to their number (Acts 2:47). Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed Wed, May 2013 00:00

  • Mohamed Ibaouene (36), a convert from Islam to Christianity, was convicted in July 2012 of “proselytising” in Algeria. The verdict was passed in his absence and without his knowledge. He was later sentenced to a year in prison and fined 50,000 dinars (£420; US$630). Mohamed challenged the conviction, and on 13 February 2013 the appeal court rescinded the jail term but doubled his fine. A Muslim colleague had brought the accusation against Mohamed after the latter refused to renounce Christ. Pray for justice for Mohamed and that the rights of Algerians to freedom of religion will be respected both by other citizens and by the law. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed Tue, May 2013 00:00

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