Churches in Northern Nigeria to Be Demolished
by Staff
December 14, 2007
The Kano state government has decided to demolish four church buildings, without discussion or compensation, to make way for roads and a hospital, according to a November 30 report from Compass Direct. Rev. Murtala, head of the Christian Association of Nigeria, sees the road and hospital construction as merely a guise for demolishing the buildings. For the Church leaders in Kano, this action is a continuation of the onslaught they have faced since the government implemented sharia law in the state. The two Pentecostal churches and the two Evangelical Fellowship of West Africa churches are all located in the Badawa area of Kano.
Persecution of Christians is prevalent in Kano state. Last year, the only church building in the town of Rogo, Kano was destroyed by authorities. Pastor Yahaya Ibrahim told Compass Direct there are 13,000 Christians in the Rogo area, but the government denies them any land to build church buildings.
There is also significant pressure against Christian children. "Our children cannot be admitted into government-owned schools unless they change their names to Muslim names," Ibrahim said."There are times children of Christians are forced to convert into Islam."
Pray for the continued ministry of church fellowships in Kano, despite the opposition they face. Pray that Christians will be able to continue to meet together, despite the lack of buildings.
For more information on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, go to www.persecution.net/country/nigeria.htm. The Voice of the Martyrs has just released a new 60-minute DVD report on Nigeria. Go to www.persecution.net/catalog.htm to order a copy today.
