Soldiers Withdrawn From Church On Saturday – Cleric

 

Christian leaders in Zaria, where some churches were recently bombed, have said that soldiers posted to the area were withdrawn on Saturday while the churches were bombed on Sunday.
The Secretary of the Second Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) DCC, which was affected by Sunday’s explosion, Rev. Chris Dariya, told the Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Yakowa, that they actually got information that the Boko Haram sect was planning to attack churches that fateful Sunday.
According to him, they got the information few days before the attack and Chairmen and Secretaries of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the area were invited for a meeting on the issue.
He noted that they were surprised when the following day, being Saturday, the military personnel that were drafted to maintain peace around the church were withdrawn and they became apprehensive.
He said, “Some of us were very concerned and were thinking of what possible thing to do to avert such happening. I came back on Saturday from a meeting and drove into my office which is just behind (the Church), that is the District Office.
“There were soldiers that were actually patrolling and guarding the area. I saw them parking their things and I drove there and asked two of them what was happening and what we heard which I am sure you heard too. You are packing your things and it does not speak well for the community and for me as a religious leader.
“I was told that the community was disturbing them and that is why they have to move. I told them that it was not the community that kept them here but the government. But they told me there were ordered, but I don’t know where the others came from.”
Yakowa, who  was overwhelmed by emotions when he visited the scene of the explosions, said that if Kaduna State is peaceful, the nation would have peace because whatever happens in Kaduna State affects the nation adversely.
He called on the Christians not to resort to reprisals.