Tension over the demolition of 99 years old ECWA Church in Katsina as CAN, Katsina clash over planned demolition

Some religious organizations, in­cluding the Chris­tian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have vowed to resist the planned demolition of a 99-year old ECWA Church Headquar­ters Mission Compound, Mataazu in Mataazu Lo­cal Government Area of Katsina State by the Kat­sina State Urban and Re­gional Planning Board.

Already, the state govern­ment is said to be prepar­ing to construct a road that will pass through the church compound, while ECWA leadership said the road is leading to nowhere.

The planned demolition is said to be already generating tension in the area amid fears that it could escalate to a reli­gious crisis.

A letter conveying the ul­timatum entitled: “Stop No­tice” from KURPB signed by one Hussain A. Lawal (Development Control Man­ager) for General Manager dated January 6, 2015, sent to ECWA Trustees was obtained by journalists in Abuja.

It reads: “You are hereby advised to stop all the work at Matazu ECWA Church. It is believed that you are proceeding with develop­ment of the site without the necessary legal requirements of planning permission from Katsina State Urban and Re­gional Planning Board or in violation of such permission.

“If you are developing the site without planning permis­sion, or in contravention of conditions of such permis­sion granted, you are com­mitting an office. In receipt of this notice, you should stop such work with immedi­ate effect and present a for­mal application for planning permission to the Develop­ment Control immediately.

“Failure to act within three days of this notice may result in further action by the Board. This notice will cease to have effect only after the issuance of planning permission by the Katsina State Urban and Re­gional Planning Board.”

But the President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor; ECWA President, Rev. Jer­emiah Gado and President of Tarayyar Masihiyawan Nijeria (Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri Christians), General Ishaku Ahmed Dikko (retd), have vowed to resist the ac­tion, which they described as “pure persecution of Chris­tians.”

Oritsejafor, who said the planned demolition exer­cise was all because of the forthcoming general elec­tions, urged Nigerians to rise against such injustice.