Kaduna community raises alarm as Shi’ites return to abandoned site 7 years after
//Godwin Ekosin, Kaduna//
At Saminaka, headquarters of Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State, The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and Muslim community said they were not comfortable with the new building site by Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shi’ites.
The complainants said they are making the development public to draw the attention of Federal and State government and relevant security agencies to take proactive measures to avert possible bloodshed later in future.
However, Shiite’s spokesman, Ibrahim Musa, said: “When we were worshiping with other Muslims, they said they don’t want us that is why we decided to build our centre. The building is just an Islamic centre.
“We have an Islamic school there too in Saminaka. Just that people who are against us like Izaila those muslims who go to Saudi Arabia are the one against us. We have Certificate of Occupancy (C of O). I cannot categorically say we have building plan from KASUPDA.We got an order today that the building should be stopped. I don’t think any true christian will be against us”.
In a letter of complaint/security alert, dated 26th September, 2016, written by RCCG provincial Pastor Oludare Ojo, and addressed to the chairman Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna state chapter and security agencies, said Shiite returned to the area is a threat to the church and community.
RCCG letter reads: “This is to bring to your notice that the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (Shi’ites) led by El-Zakzaky are working on a building right in front of our Church – The Redeem Christian Church of God, Nassarawa, behind Post Office Saminaka.
“This project has been abandoned for over seven years. We believe this was due to the issue the Church raised against them in 2009.
“We are aware of an agreement reached between the the Church and the group in 2009 but due to the recent incidents in the country and the Shiites group modus operandi, we see their return as a big security threat to the Church and the community at large. We pray that the building project be discontinued since the Church building has been in existence years before their coming.
“We therefore call on you (CAN) sir, to use your honourable office to wade urgently into the matter to forestall unpalatable incidence that may occur in the future” RCCG said in that letter.
Report said Muslim clerics in the area have equally alerted the Sarkin Saminaka and security agencies of threats by some members of their communities to forcefully pull down the sect building if urgent action is not taken.
It would be recalled that, the army had bloody encounter with sect members that left many dead in Zaria last year as residence of Shi!ite leader, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky in Gyellesu, and Shi’ite centre Hussainiyya, at Sokoto Road in Zaria were demolished and subsequent arrest of the sect leader, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, who has since been held in security ‘safe’ custody over the bloody clash despite protests of his release by the sect members.