The Catholic Bishop of Ilorin diocese, Most Rev. Ayo Maria Ayotebi OP, has
lamented how some muslim youths attacked and vandalized Saint Joseph Cathederal
Ilorin at Taiwo Road on the New Year day, chatting "this land belong to muslim," reports ITRealms.
The Bishop in a press statement made available to ITRealms, said that aside the Cathedral,
that Methodist cathedral church, located opposite where the attack and vandalisation
began at about 2:15am on the New Year day, just as the Christ Apostolic Church
(CAC) was affected too.
He noted that the end of the New Year vigil, otherwise known
as ‘Cross over night’ celebration of holy mass, that majority of the
parishioners left for their homes while some worshippers stayed back inside the
church since they could not go home due to distance or staying back to pray.
“It got to our notice that some group of persons started
harassing members by collecting their valuables and taking advantage of ladies
by pressing their breasts. At this time, the stationed policemen were no more
in the compound.
“At about 2.15am we perceive an attack on the Methodist
cathedral church, that is the opposite
of St. Joseph Catholic cathedral, which lasted for about 30minutes with stones
to break and damage properties of the Methodist church and the thugs were heard
chorusing "Allah Akbar, this land belongs to the Muslims.”
According to him, “We perceive the presence of
policemen at about 3.00am with gunshots having notified them much earlier
through calls. The policemen retreated at arrival with the population of the
hooligans and this gave them access to the St. Joseph premises by forcefully
opening the gate with stones.
“To save the lives and properties of the church, the church
security men quickly alerted the parishioners who are still praying in the
church and chapel respectively and this allowed the majority of them to run for
safety. The thugs gained access in shouting that " this land belong to
Islam" throwing stones and other objects on the church building to destroy
the window, car parked within the compound and they were able to invade the
chapel with about 15 children and a woman still sleeping therein, beat up the
woman with a stick and made way with belongings including, phones, money, and
bags.
“On their way out, it was noticed that the gallery of the
church with the help of a seminarian they demount two of the statues; that of
St. Joseph's and the resurrection scene. They lifted that of St. Joseph and set
ablaze leaving the image of Christ's resurrection broken on the ground.”
Additionally, Bishop Atoyebi said, “A bajad motorcycle was
also moved out of the compound and burnt the security post was vandalized and
valuables kept there were set ablaze on the asphalt road.
He pointed out that the whole process lasted till about
4.00am and the church security resumed seeing the level of damage and how safe it
is for the movement of people to a more comfortable place from their hidings.
“While all these is on, the Muslims group within the United
Secondary School beside St. Joseph's Cathedral were on their vigil programme
undisturbed which lasted till about 5:30am and the worshippers were seen
trooping out of the school compound and departing in different
directions.
The bishop further said that the Governor of Kwara State,
Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has been informed and the state security agencies as
well.
Nonye Dom/GEE
No comments:
Post a Comment