Ogwashi Uku: The Delta State Government has handed down a strong warning to members of the public engaged in the burning of public properties, especially churches and its equipment, to desist or face prosecution.
The warning was made on behalf of the government by the Executive Assistants to the state governor on Religious Matters, Bishop Greatman Nmalagu, when he visited some of the churches that were destroyed by fire at Ogwashi Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area.
Bishop Nmalagu warned that perpetrators of such evil acts will be dealt with if apprehended, according to the law of the land.
According to him, the state is a peaceful state that has accommodated all religious bodies and stressed that anyone or group with evil intentions, geared towards creating religious mayhem will be handed over to security agencies.
He said from assessment, the churches affected by the disaster, had lost over twenty million naira and appealed to the churches not to take the laws into their hands, but report any suspected individuals or persons to the authourity.
Speaking on the development, the chairman and the secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in the area, Most Senior Apostle Nwanze and Revd. Dr. J. Okonyi who conducted him round the affected churches, said CAN body had earlier set up a committee and recommended the local government should install effective vigilante system, with the supervision of the police.
Affected churches in the fire attack were the Evangelical Miracle Centre Ministry, World Liberation Ministry, and Spirit and life Bible Church, all around Ishiekpe quarter, Ogwashi Uku.
