Quote from The Punch, Tuesday, April 14, 2009:

Churches burnt, scores injured in Niger violence

By Francis Falola and Busola Ayodele

The Easter celebration on Monday turned sour in Minna, the Niger State capital, and Gwada town as people suspected to be Muslim fundamentalists stormed some churches, causing bodily harm and destroying properties worth several millions of naira.

Christians all over the world earlier in the day had assembled at churches for the symbolic Galilee picnic, an event to mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But the day turned bloody in Gwada, where three churches were burnt while about 26 Christians were injured. In Minna, the Niger Baptist Church was the target of the fanatics who injured five Christian youths and damaged more than five cars.

Our correspondents gathered that the incident in Gwada happened as Christian youths from all churches marched round the town, drumming and rejoicing over their ability to see another resurrection day of Jesus Christ.

It was learnt that as the procession continued, some Muslim youths, who apparently had pre-planned their action, appeared and started attacking the Christian youths, injuring some of them.

The attackers reportedly turned their attention to churches where special services and picnics were being held to commemorate the Easter.

They disrupted their activities and burnt three of the churches.

In Minna, the incident at the Baptist Church, our correspondents gathered, happened in a similar way, but the combined efforts of the Christian youths saved the churches in the town from being set ablaze.

It was learnt that two Muslim fanatics, who had hidden in a provisions shop near the church, had first come to spy on the building but they were spotted by the Christian youths who had come out of the church.

The youths, according to one of the victims, Mr. Olajide Oke, informed the church leadership, who intimated the church members.

The youths, on getting wind of the development, vowed to protect the church.

According to Oke, the two Muslim fundamentalists earlier found lurking around the church premises left and came back a few minutes later with about 60 others and they immediately sprayed the cars parked outside the bookshop with petrol, "but the efforts of the Christian youths prevented the hoodlums from setting them ablaze."

However, three vehicles AH817SUL, EQ939ABC and AH690MNA were badly damaged as the Muslim youths threw stones and other weapons at the vehicles and the Christian youths.

Those injured were either stabbed or hit by stones, the victim said.

An elder of the church, Dr. James Ojebode, described the incident as sad.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Richard Oguche, said three assistant commissioners of police and a detachment of riot policemen were immediately sent to Gwada to put the situation under control.

Oguche confirmed the arrest of 88 Muslim fanatics, adding that they had been taken to the Criminal Investigations Department and would be charged to court soon.

The police spokesman said 20 suspects were arrested in Minna while all the injured were taken to the General Hospital where they had been receiving treatment. No life was lost.

The Superintendent of Police, David Abuo, who is also the head of the mobile police in Minna, led the operation to flush out the fanatics.

Our correspondent observed at the Baptist Church in Minna that the Easter programme abruptly came to an end when the attack happened.

The floor was also stained with blood of the wounded, Unquote.

A good tree would not produce bad fruit. It should by now be obvious that whoever those marauders claim to serve does not mean well for the victims. The earlier we stop deceiving ourselves that we are worshipping the same Being, the nearer we would come to a solution of our national crises. Any wonder why we remain where we are when our national life is characterised by deceit (through the teeth), impunity (at all levels), rascality (in its basest form) and tomfoolery?