wfn.org | Adventists in Nigeria Fear for Colleagues

[APD <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

September 16, 2001
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

Adventists in Nigeria Fear for Colleagues

Bukuru, Nigeria, 16.09.2001/APD  Religious 
clashes in the northern Nigerian city of Jos 
have claimed at  least 160 lives since tensions 
between Muslims and Christians flared into 
violence September 7. The Seventh-day Adventist 
Church in Bukuru, Jos, was "badly hit" by the 
conflict, according to Pastor Joseph Ola, 
president of the Adventist Church in Nigeria.

"All our members are gone to various unknown 
places," says Ola. "One of them was shot in the 
head. Four others were arrested by military men 
and were taken to an unknown place. There is no 
way to get to officers of the field [or 
region]."

Despite an army-enforced curfew, armed gangs 
moved through Jos last week, burning cars, 
houses, mosques, and churches and accosting 
people on the street, according to news 
reports.

The adoption of Sharia, or Islamic law, in 11 
northern Nigerian states has inflamed tension 
between religious groups in the region.

"It is time that our Lord should come to put an 
end to all this bloodshed," says Ola, referring 
to both the conflict in Jos and the recent 
terrorist attacks on the United States. 
"Innocent souls are being killed."

"On behalf of the Seventh-day Adventist church 
in Nigeria, we send our condolence to the 
families affected by this terrorist attack," 
adds Ola. "May the Lord send peace into the 
world so that we can finish the work assigned 
to us by our Master." (137/2001)