Agaju Madugba
2 April 2003
Kaduna — Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has collated its losses in the spate of religious riots in Kaduna and its environs, saying that it would require about N4.5 billion to rehabilitate the churches burnt or vandalised in the disturbances.
According to CAN, the figure comprises 130 churches destroyed during the February and May 2000 religious riots, valued at N3 billion, and another 130 churches valued at N1.5 billion vandalised during the November 2002 disturbances in connection with the Miss World Beauty Pageant.
The Kaduna branch of CAN said at a press conference yesterdaythat it would organise a fund raising ceremony on Saturday, "to enable owners of these destroyed churches to be able to re-construct their places of worship, in order to glorify the Lord God."
CAN Chairman, the Most Rev. (Dr.) Joseph Bagobiri and secretary, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, jointly briefed the press during which CAN regretted that Kaduna State Government was yet to redeem its pledge of N30 million to the group.
According to the CAN chairman, "over the years, CAN has been calling on government to compensate the churches that were affected but little has been done.
"However, CAN will continue to pursue the compensation of the affected churches to ensure that Christians are not left to suffer unjustly because of the faith we profess.
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