Church petitions police, DSS over threat of violence in Jos

By ADO ABUBAKAR MUSA, Jos

The Assemblies of God Nigeria has petitioned the Plateau State Police Command and the Director State Security Service (DSS) over threat of violence in Jos between members of the Church and that of the newly registered denomination Christened ‘Assembly of God Northern Nigeria’.

The petition which was addressed to Plateau State Police Commissioner and copied to the DSS was made available to Journalists in Jos through the legal practitioners of the Church and signed by the leader, E.Y. Jinang.

Daily Trust reports that the copy of the petition issued to our correspondent was received and stamped the state commissioner of police.

According to the petition, the Church is asking security agencies to put a stop to the proposed inauguration of members of the new nomination in the Church and use of its properties during the event, scheduled to hold October 11, describing the move as illegal and uncalled for.

The new Assembly of God Northern Nigeria was reported to have been registered by the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) and served as the chairman of the trustees of the registration.

Part of the petition reads “What is on the ground now is that the trustees of Assembly of God Northern Nigeria are planning to hold in the Church building belonging to trustees of Assemblies of God Nigeria. It is on the record that Assemblies of God Nigeria is not the same as Assembly of God Northern Nigeria.

“Sir, we are calling on you to use your good office to stop Assembly of God Northern Nigeria from using the properties belonging to Assemblies of God Nigeria for whatever reason as their actions will only brew anarchy and disorder.

“The Church has written to the trustees of the Assembly of God Northern Nigeria to stay away from its properties and its activities but it boasted that it will forcefully take over the properties of the Church, ” the petition added.

The petition however noted in recent past many pastors employed by Assemblies of God Nigeria were chased out from their duty posts by members of the new denomination on the order of their chairman, calling on security agencies in the state to take quick action to avert further occurrence of violence. (Daily Trust)