A branch of the Living Faith Church,
popularly called the Winners Chapel,
in Giwa, headquarters of Giwa Local
Government Area of Kaduna State,
has been set ablaze.
The church, founded by Bishop David
Oyedepo, was reportedly set ablaze
by two unidentified arsonists.
During the incident that happened on
March 20, 2015 at about 2:30pm,
nothing was saved from the church.
The burning of the church came a
few months after the reported
endorsement of President Goodluck
Jonathan by Oyedepo.
A terse statement issued on
Thursday in Abuja by the President
of Tarayyar Masihiyawan Nijeria
(Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri Christians),
General Ishaku Ahmed Dikko (rtd),
and the Director of National Issues
of the Christian Association of
Nigeria, Sunny Oibe, entitled:
“Presidential Elections 2015: Signs of
what to expect,” called on security
agencies to act fast to avoid violence
in the area.
According to Dikko and Oibe, the
Christians in the North, particularly
the Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri speaking
Christians, who are indigenous in
these states and live within and
among their kith and kin, “are in
serious jeopardy”.
The statement reads in full: “Giwa is
the Headquarters of Giwa Local
Government Area of Kaduna State.
On Friday, 20 March, 2015 at about
2:30 pm, two (2) unknown hoodlums on
a motorcycle drove into the premises
of Living Faith Church (Winners
Chapel) and set it ablaze.
“The Church was razed to the ground
and nothing was saved from the
Church including the building. This
action surprised the Christian
Community, especially the Church
members, as there was no tension or
any sign of it between Christians and
Muslims in the town.
“It is, however, a known fact that
the people of the Local Government
have not been friendly with the
Christian Community even though over
90 percent of them are of the same
Huasa-Fulani indigenes.
“The incident actually became more
worrisome when no effort was made
by a passersby to assist in putting out
the fire. In fact, it was a Fulani
herdsman that saw the fire and
reported to the Police Station. Only
one Policeman and a Christian
volunteer that ran to the scene and
attempted to put out the fire but of
course could not achieve anything.
“This situation and the circumstances
surrounding the incidence are a cause
of serious concern. If this can happen
more than a week to the Presidential
Elections, what shall we expect
during or after the elections? Is this
a sign of what to expect or a dress
rehearsal of a repeat of 2011 Post –
Election Violence? This is a wakeup
call to the Federal, State and Local
Government Authorities,especially
the Security Agencies.
Oyedepo’s Church, Winners
Chapel burnt down over
purported support for Jonathan
“The Christians in the North,
particularly the Hausa, Fulani and
Kanuri speaking Christians, who are
indigenous in these States and live
within and among their kith and kin
are in serious jeopardy”.