Nigeria: Muslim Mob Attacks Church, Christians With Knives And Iron Rods Over Water Dispute

Until the Muslim world drinks of the living water of Christ, they will continue to pursue death in their thirst for blood …

John 4:14a, “… whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again …”

Morning Star News – “A Muslim mob with knives and iron rods injured several members of an Anglican church in Nasarawa state on Aug. 17 over a dispute about less than 1 cent in change, area Christians said.

Three pastors, four elders and choir members of the St. James Anglican Cathedral were wounded in Lafia, capital of Nasarawa in central Nigeria, as they met for study and worship preparation. They sustained cuts on their heads and other parts of their bodies when some 30 Muslims attacked with motorcycle chains and wooden clubs, along with the other weapons, area residents said.

An area member of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ in Lafia, Joshua Nuhu Kuju, told Morning Star News that a Muslim woman incited the Muslims to attack after she had a minor dispute over payment with a young Christian man who runs the church’s water borehole.

‘The Muslim woman sent her children to purchase water from the church’s borehole, and then a misunderstanding over about 5 naira [less than 1 cent US$] occurred,’ he said. ‘The Muslim woman then went and invited some of her Muslim neighbors, who stormed the church and attacked the members of the church.’

The assailants also damaged Bibles and broke chairs, he said.

The Rev. Isaac Onwusongaonye of St. James Anglican Cathedral, of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), told Morning Star News that at about 6 p.m., as he and six other church leaders were meeting for Bible study preparation and the choir was about to begin rehearsal, a church member informed them that someone was arguing with the young man in charge of the church-run water borehole, Peter Aleku.

‘When we enquired of the water seller what happened, he said that a girl, a [Muslim] neighbor, came and bought water worth 20 naira [1 cent US$] and did not pay,’ Onwusongaonye said. ‘Shortly after, the girl’s sister came and fetched water worth 5 naira and paid 20 naira and demanded 15 naira in change. But the water seller told her that, for the change, to meet her sister who bought water earlier and did not pay.’

The girl protested and then told her mother about the exchange, the clergyman said.

‘The woman came and threatened that she had a son who was capable of demolishing the church, and that she would call him to come and fight the water seller,’ he said.” Read more.

Flashback: Nigeria: Thousands Flee As Islamic Militants Kill Christians, Threaten ‘Massive Bloodbath’ – “Nigerian Islamic militants have threatened a massive bloodbath after killing at least two Christians in recent days, forcing thousands of people to flee their villages along Nigeria’s northeast, refugees said Saturday June 22. The reported threats came as local believers were mourning Christian Toma Vongjen, 40, who was reportedly killed by Fulani Muslims in attacks that also left church buildings in four villages in Plateau state completely destroyed.” Read more.