Protest: Police To Investigate Looting, Vandalization Of Churches In Katsina

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Katsina State Police authorities have said they are currently conducting an investigation to unmask more hoodlums that allegedly vandalized and looted the Living Faith Church a.k.a Winners Chapel and the Deeper Life Bible Church during the ongoing EndBadGovernance protest in the State.

This is just as Pastor Emmanuel Micah Yakusa, the Overseer of the looted Living Faith expressed dismay over the decision of the protesters to vent their spleen on a place of Worship.

Speaking on Sunday August 4, 2024, Pastor Yakusa said some protesters had stormed the Church Thursday night, carting away about 205 chairs, musical instruments and other church valuables worth millions of Naira .

The Source reports that the ongoing EndBadGovernance protest on day one was hugely marred by large scale looting, vandalization and arson in most States in the North West region.

Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna Katsina, and Jigawa recorded high rates of looting and vandalization of both private and public facilities, particularly on day one ( Thursday August1) .

Following the looting, the Living Faith Pastor informed that Sunday Church service was conducted under heavy security presence.

According to him, the hoodlums who also vandalized the Church auditorium and the Administration section housing the Accountant’s  office, came in their numbers riding in tricycles.

Before gaining entrance in to the church, the hoodlums were said to have  broken the doors and windows.

“They packed everything inside the Church auditorium, including the wall clock, musical instruments, pulpit, plastic chairs and computer sets”, Pastor Yakusa noted.

Although, the protesters turned looters had earmarked about three Churches for raiding, they only had their way with two -Winners Chapel and Deeper Life.

Deeper Life was said to have suffered the same looting spree as the Winners Chapel.

But their efforts to penetrate the Anglican Church, the third target was unsuccessful

Pastor Yakusa, noted that the development portends a threat to the collective agitation for good governance in the country.

He regretted that the hoodlums could target places of worship when it is clear to all that food items are not stored in Churches.

He however, announced that the case has been reported to the appropriate authorities.

The Spokesperson for the Katsina State Police Command, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, also informed that arrests have been made concerning the incident.

The Police authorities, he stated, are determined to get to the root of the matter.