Irate Youths Disrupt Religious Crusade Held by Convert in Niger, Injuring Ten People

 

Scores of irate youths last Monday night disrupted a religious crusade organised by a convert in Tegina town of Niger State injuring ten crusaders in the process.

The convert whose name was given as Prophet Shuaibu Bashir believed to be from a royal family in Sokoto State was reported to have been converting people since he became ‘born again’ few months back.

In addition, he was said to have been healing the sick and raising the dead at most of the crusades he had held.

It learnt that the crusade in Tegina town had hardly commenced when the irate youths believed to belong to the opposite religion stormed the venue of the revival, hitting and beating those in attendance with different objects, thereby forcing the event to end abruptly.

However, according to reports from the area, not less than ten people were seriously injured as a result of the attack while five vehicles that brought the people for the crusade were damaged.

It was also learnt that two motorcycles were also taken away from the venue of the crusade by the rampaging youths.

One of the organisers of crusade told THISDAY on the condition of anonymity that the attack by the youths "is the highest degree of religious intolerance," saying: "We obtained permits from the police and the Emir before organising the crusade."

The source, a clergyman in charge of an old generation church, said: "Nobody can stop God’s work, we will continue to evangelise until all souls are brought to Christ."

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in Niger State Police Command, DSP Muhammad Abubakar, confirmed the story, but said: "Only five people were injured."

Abubakar, who said no arrest had been made in connection with the incident because "the youths fled on the arrival of the police," added that those injured were admitted in the hospital for treatment.

He said the state Police Commissioner, Alhaji Ibrahim Sabo, had directed the Police Area Commander in Kagara to immediately proceed to Tegina to mediate in the crisis.

"We don't want any religious crisis in this state. Anyone found involved would be apprehended and prosecuted according to the laws of the land," Abubakar said.