By Taye Obateru
Jos — The Board of Elders of ECWA Goodnews Church, Jos has condemned the recent attack on the church by hoodlums under the guise of protesting the ban on the operation of commercial motorcyclists in Jos-Bukuru metropolis, calling on the Plateau State government to compensate victims of the violence.

Addressing a press conference, the church described the attack as provocative and designed “to introduce a religious angle into a purely socio-economic action initiated by government and not the church.”

According to the Senior Reverend, Garba Andu, the church had become a target of attack at the slightest opportunity, adding that the last attack was the sixth on the church in the recurring crisis in the state.

The church expressed deep concern over the alleged role played by some members of the joint security task force during the attack on the church alleging that they not only refused to stop the hoodlums from vandalizing the church but stopped policemen who initially repelled the hoodlums.

“We observed with disappointment how these military men and others who joined them later turned a blind eye to allow hoodlums and religious bigots to violate the rights of innocent people without remorse or fear of God.

“The military have argued that it is not within their mandate to enforce the ban on the commercial motorcyclists but the attack on our church by the hoodlums is not part of the issue at stake, more so that the Military Task Force is in the state to maintain law and order.

We view the action of the military as bias against the Church as they took part in aiding the youths to perpetrate the evil”, it alleged.

Rev. Andu who said the church had sent a petition to appropriate quarters on the matter called on the state government to compensate the church and all those who lost relations and property as a result of the disturbance.

The special task force has repeatedly denied allegations of bias against it insisting that it was carrying out its duties professionally as expected.