Kaduna Govt Orders Closure of Church, Schools and Hospitals

The Kaduna State Government on Wednesday ordered the closure of Assemblies of God’s Church, Saminaka, Lere Local Government Area of the state, citing serious security threat, caused by the leadership crisis rocking the church.

A statement by the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to governor, Nasir El-Rufai, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, said the decision was taken during the state executive council meeting with a view to averting break down of law and order.

Besides, the government also ordered the closure of the Theological Seminary of Northern Nigeria (TSNN) Saminaka, Shalom Comprehensive College, Saminaka and Evangelist Hospital, Saminaka, all owned by the church.

The statement explained that the executive council deliberated on the leadership crisis in the Saminaka district of the church, noting that the crisis had polarised members of the church and is posing a threat to peace and security in the locality and the state as a whole.

“The council noted that the leadership crisis in the church (at the national level) has led to disintegration of order among church members and leading to tensions among rival camps. The crisis has also spread to the students of the church-owned school and seminary, who are now split and divided along factional lines.

“The council reviewed previous efforts made to resolve the crisis. It noted that these were aborted by those involved in the leadership tussle, principally to preserve their personal interests with little concern for the common good, and the peace and security of Kaduna State.

“The council unanimously agreed that if left unchecked, the growing tension may degenerate into total breakdown of law and order in the said area, with the potential to spread to other parts of the state.

“Therefore, the council has taken steps to preserve the peace. It has unanimously directed the immediate closure of the following: Theological Seminary of Northern Nigeria (TSNN), Saminaka, Shalom Comprehensive College, Saminaka; Assemblies of God Church, Nmbare, Saminaka, Assemblies of God Church (Jerusalem) Saminaka, AGC Evangelist Hospital, Saminaka,” the statement said.

The statement explained that those who may be affected by the closure of the school and the hospital would be admitted into government schools or hospitals, if they chose to.

The statement directed that the status quo, with regard to farmlands, houses and other assets of the church be upheld pending the resolution of the leadership crisis which is before the Supreme Court.

The statement further warned that the state government would not tolerate the use of religion and ethnicity to cause crisis in the state, adding that anyone who attempts to cause crisis would be arrested and prosecuted no matter his or her position in the society.

The Assemblies of God’s Church has been embroiled in crisis since September 2013 when members of the church’s Body of Ambassadors and National Consultative Assembly (BANCA), the highest body of the laity, was said to have passed a vote of no confidence on the General Superintendent of the church, Rev. Paul Emeka and appointed Rev. Chidi Okoroafor as acting General Superintendent.

Since then, some branches of the church, including the one in Saminaka had been polarised along the two personalities