Hundreds of Christian youths and elders converged at the site of the demolished Local Church of Brethren, LCB, under Ekkliziyan Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN), a.k.a Church of Brethren Maduganari ward of Maiduguri metropolis to worship on Sunday, singing praise and worships songs.
Recall that the church was demolished on Thursday, with gunshots fired by a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force, CJTF, leading to the death of one person, as other sustained injuries.
But worshippers were undeterred and chose to hold service at the scene of the demolition.
Sharing videos and photos from the church service, Hausa Christians Foundation, HACFO, wrote on Facebook: “They demolished the building, thinking it is the CHURCH. The Church is forever unstoppable and indestructible.
“Jesus Said, I will build my church, and the gate of hell shall not prevail against it. They demolished the building, thinking it was the church.
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Addressing journalists at the demolished site of the Church, Reverend Pastor in charge of EYN Maduganari, Reverend Shawulu Auta Ndahi, condemned the killing of one of his church members who attempted to protect the Church from demolition.
He stressed that there was nothing on earth that can compensate for a life lost. He requested the state government to assist the families of the deceased and those who sustained gunshot wounds.
“Therefore, as a Church which believes in peace and unity, we have some immediate demands from Governor Zulum to immediately reconstruct our demolished Church and other facilities including our pure water factory.
“The Church also wants the government to lift the ban on the teaching of Christian Religious Knowledge, CRK, in all our primary and secondary schools as it has been the practice in the past, as the constitution allows for freedom of worship in the country,” the Reverend Pastor stated.
Also in his own address, the Youth CAN Chairman, Mr. Sunday Ishaku, while making his condemnation on behalf of Christian Youth Groups, prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased and quick recovery for those who sustained injuries during the fracas.