Nigeria: Pastor’s son killed by government officials demolishing church
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – In addition to being continually attacked by Islamic terrorists, Christians in Nigeria are persecuted by the government as well: a pastor’s son was shot to death in Borno state last week by government officials sent to demolish a church building, Christian Today reports.
Ezekiel Bitrus Tumba, 29, was killed on August 12 after he and another young man tried to prevent the demolition of the Church of Brethren in Nigeria in Borno state capital Maiduguri, Christian Today reports. The shooting was carried out by the Borno Geographic Information Service, a government agency that maintains land.
In a statement, Bishop Williams Naga, the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria said: “Officials of Borno Geographic Information System, led by its executive secretary, Engr Adams Bababa, brought CJTF to the church not only for demolition but also ended up killing our brother and son. The entire Christian community has been thrown into mourning mood as a brother, who was a breadwinner of his family, was sent to his early grave.”
Nevertheless, on Sunday congregants gathered at the site of their destroyed church to worship God, Christian Today reports. “They demolished the building, thinking it is the Church. (But) the Church is forever unstoppable and indestructible,” Hausa Christians Foundation posted on Facebook.
According to International Christian Concern, Nigerian government authorities have destroyed four other churches in the area, allegedly on the grounds of “failure to formalize land titles and property tax.” State governments in northern Nigeria are reportedly known to refuse permits for churches and to tear down existing church buildings without warning.
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