The Niger State police command has countered the state government over the cause of fire incident at the Zonal Headquarters of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Kontagora.
DAILY GIST recalls that the Niger State Government, through a statement by Aisha Wakaso, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Print Media, blamed the incident on hoodlums and described the act as an attempt to destabilise peace and unity in the state.
According to Wakaso, the burning of the church was a deliberate act of persons meant to incite unrest.
But contradicting the government’s stance, the Niger State Police Command dismissed the claim and stated that the cause of the fire is still unknown.
In a statement released by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the police noted that while the fire caused significant damage to the church property, the investigation is ongoing, and no evidence has yet been found to support the claim that hoodlums were responsible.
The statement read: “On 10/8/2024 at about 09.00am, information was received that on the same date at about 04.00am, there was a fire incident at Redeemed Church, along COE road Kontagora.
“The fire burnt and destroyed valuable property of the church, value yet to be ascertained. The police patrol team led by the DPO, A Division, Kontagora visited the scene. The inferno was put out in collaboration with the fire service, but a large damage has been done by the fire.
“However, the cause of the inferno is yet to be ascertained. Investigation into the unfortunate incident is ongoing, no life was lost”.
