6th May, 2015
Christians in Nigeria are mourning the death of a pastor’s daughter who was killed when a church building was torched during "a vicious attack" on a village in Rogo Local Government Area of Kano State, Christians said.
The attack by angry Muslims on 1st April, details of which have just emerged, also injured several people, according to investigators.
The daughter of Reverend Habila Garba suffocated to death following an arson attack on her home in Gidan Maso Village, said Voice Of the Martyrs advocacy group.
"Local Muslim youth had set fire to the house after failing to locate Yahaya Joshua, a Christian man who had briefly converted to Islam before returning to Christianity," the group added.
The mob of militants had originally planned to kill Yahaya, Christians said. Yet when they couldn’t find him, they lit cornstalks inside the church and burned the building to the ground, ignoring the pleas of local believers, according to rights activists.
"They then went on to attack the pastor’s residence nearby. During the attack, the mob also physically assaulted local Christians with machetes, resulting in several injuries," VOM said. Two of the victims reportedly sustained broken arms.
VOM said it had urged supporters to pray that as "this ministering family now grieves the tragic loss of their precious loved one, they will be greatly comforted in God’s reassuring promises of eternal life through Christ’s death and resurrection."
The group also asked prayers for "the full recovery of those who were injured in the assault" and "that lasting peace will reign over this victimized community, halting any further plans of attack".
Additionally, the group said "may the peaceful witness of the believers be used mightily to encourage many others to discover the truth about Jesus and, subsequently, turn to faith in Him".
