New Year Day Attack: CAN Holds Emergency Meeting in Ilorin

Segun Atanda/

Christian leaders in Kwara State are currently meeting in Ilorin following the early morning attack on some churches in the city on Monday.

The meeting convened under the auspices of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is holding at an undisclosed location in the capital city.

A source at the meeting told NewsmakersNG on telephone that the meeting would fashion an appropriate response to the “wicked and unprovoked attack”.

He however declined to give further details until the end of the meeting.

Scores of people were reportedly injured in the attack allegedly carried out by unidentified youths from the Taiwo Isale area of Ilorin during the New Year celebrations.

Eyewitnesses claimed that several young ladies were also raped by the attackers.

NewsmakersNG learned that no fewer than 20 people were injured in the attack.

Prominent among the churches affected were the Methodist Cathedral of Blessing and St. Joseph Catholic Church, both located in Taiwo Isale area.

Property belonging to the churches and the United Secondary School in the area were also damaged.

Statues of St. Joseph and Mary were also smashed and burned at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Some windows and other property of the church, as well as vehicles were vandalised.

Some reports said that the youths were prevented by the community leaders in the area from embarking on what they termed, ‘New Year carnival,’ around 2am over fears that it could degenerate into chaos.

To express their anger, the youths resorted to attacking churches and other religious gatherings in the area, including a Muslim group, called Quareeb.

Spokesman for the police in the state, Ajayi Okasanmi, said 10 suspects had been arrested in connection with the attack. But NewsmakersNG learned that the number of suspects in custody may have risen to 35.

Okasanmi further said: “The Kwara State Police Command wishes to assure the people of Kwara State of its capacity to deal decisively with anybody arrested for being a part of the breakdown of law and order that was witnessed in the Taiwo Isale area of Ilorin.

“At about 2am of today (Monday), some youths were prevented from carrying out what was termed New Year carnival and in protest to the denial, the youths resorted to throwing bangers indiscriminately at all gatherings in the vicinity, including religious gatherings celebrating the New Year. Three persons were injured in the resulting stampede.

“Catholic, Methodist churches and other churches in the area, as well as a Muslim group, Quareeb, were attacked.

“It is important to note, that the attack has no religious undertone. It is simply an unlawful act by the disgruntled youths of the area, as both the Christian and Muslim gatherings in the area were attacked.”

However, a victim of the attack and minister in charge of the Methodist cathedral, Very Rev. Daniel Awodelu, gave an account that contradicted that of the police.

Awodelu in a Facebook post stated: “Muslim fanatics attacked us during our Crossover service about 1am on 1st of January 2018. Methodist Cathedral lsale Taiwo, llorin, Kwara State, Catholic Church, CAC Churches were destroyed, ministers attacked with dangerous weapons, few young ladies raped, valuables of members were stolen, the big images of Holy Mary and Jesus in front of Catholic Church were vandalized, destroyed and burnt.

“It is unfortunate to see this in Ilorin, kwara state. The Muslim fanatics were chanting Allah is the greatest. Is Nigeria a Muslim Country?”

Meanwhile, the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has issued a statement condemning the attack.

The statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahaab Oba, described the attack as criminal, satanic and alien to the state.

He called on security agencies to investigate the incident and unravel the perpetrators of the “unholy act” with a view to bringing them to book.

The statement added: “Peace is sine qua non for the development of any society and the government will not tolerate any act capable of breaching the peace, unity and tranquillity of the state.”