Protest: Katsina Churches Attacked, Valuables Stolen, Buildings Damaged

Protesters turned hoodlums invaded churches in Katsina State, looting and destroying properties under the guise of the ongoing nationwide protest against bad governance.

The protesters earlier stormed the Living Faith Church in Daura Local Government Area, Katsina State, damaging the building and stealing all its valuables. The newly renovated church, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, suffered damage to its doors and windows as the hoodlums ransacked the building.

According to an eyewitness,
the hoodlums also attacked two other churches, the Deeper Life Church and Anglican Church, though the extent of the damages there was not immediately clear. He explained that the hoodlums used Keke Napep (tricycle) to transport the stolen items from the church premises.

When contacted, Pastor David Jatau Sarki, in charge of the Living Faith Church, confirmed the attack on the church premises.

Narrating the ordeal, Pastor Jato said, “It happened around 10; 00 am on the first day of the protest. The hoodlums many of them in Keke Nappe ( Triacircle), chased the church’s security guard away, broke the door and windows, and entered the auditorium.

They parked and destroyed everything inside the Church auditorium, including the pulpits.

The list of items reportedly stolen from the church auditorium includes three Plasma TV used for displaying church programmes, musical instruments, over 205 plastic chairs, pastor’s chairs, a desktop computer at the reception and a digital clock as well as a scoreboard where the accountant usually kept the church’s documents.

Pasto Jato revealed that as a result of the damages, today’s Sunday service could not hold in the Church auditorium. They had to worship in their various home cells instead.

The Living Faith Church Pastor disclosed that out of the three churches targeted, the hoodlums only succeeded in invading the Living Faith Church and Deeper Life, but could not force themselves into the Anglican church because of the strong protector at the gate.

Pastor Jato expressed shock that a protest against bad governance would target place of worship for destructions. “This is unacceptable and must be condemned,” he said.

“We’ve informed the police and the Army about it, and the police told us yesterday that they have made some arrests,” Pastor Jato disclosed.

Similarly, In Katsina State Capital, the Power of Resurrection Church was also vandalised by the hoodlums.

Reacting to the development, Former Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Katsina, Rev. Nelson Onyekachuku, condemned the violence. “He emphasised that the government needs to address these issues and ensure the protection of places of worship.”