For information about Orthodox Christianity in Nigeria, see here.

“Muslims Burn Down Church Building in Central Nigeria,” Morning Star News, August 14, 2024:

ABUJA, Nigeria (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – Muslims burned down a church building in the early hours of Saturday (Aug. 10) in central Nigeria’s Niger state, sources said.

The razing of the building of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) congregation in Kontagora town at about 3 a.m. was the second time Muslims have destroyed the worship auditorium at the site, said Associate Pastor Samson Ogbebor.

“I got a distress call that our church was on fire, and on getting there I met a church being burned down and properties therein looted by hoodlums,” Pastor Ogbebor told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “This church has faced lots of challenges – about 10 years ago, some Muslim hoodlums came and burnt it down completely, and through self-efforts we were able to rebuild the worship sanctuary.”

Muslims in Kontagora had made several unsuccessful attempts to prevent the congregation from constructing the worship auditorium, he said.

“We eventually completed the building of the church building, but they have not relented in their opposition to allowing us as Christians to have a place of worship in the town,” Pastor Ogbebor said. “For a second time they have burnt down the sanctuary.”

Church member Markus Emmanuel said he rushed to the site after receiving a call about the fire at the Champion Parish, Kontagora town.

“The building was completely razed by fire,” Emmanuel told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “Some residents close to the church building told us that they saw a group of Muslims who came into the church premises and set fire on the building.”

Emmanuel said the building was still under construction when it was burned 10 years ago.

“This is the second time our worship sanctuary has been destroyed, as 10 years back, a group of Muslim fanatics who were opposed to the church building being constructed at that site set fire on it, before the worship building was reconstructed,” he said….