VIDEO: Sokoto rioters leave Kukah’s parish in ruins

Kukah

One of the parishes under the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan-Kukah, was attacked and vandalised on Saturday as youths protest the arrest of some suspects who killed Deborah Yakubu, a 200-level Home Economics student of Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, North-West Nigeria.

Religion Nigeria had reported that development forced Kukah to suspend all Masses in the Sokoto metropolis on Saturday.

However, in a video made available to this publication on Sunday by the Director, Social Communications of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Rev. Fr Christopher Omotosho, the ruins of the parish, named St. Kevin, could be seen.

The hoodlums burnt the altar, church equipment, including musical instruments and an office, amongst others.

Although Kukah’s residence was not attacked, Omotosho revealed that the rampaging hoodlums vandalised and torched two of the parishes presided over by the fiery preacher.

The statement obtained by Religion Nigeria was titled, ‘Current Development In Sokoto’.

It read, “The Sokoto State Government has declared a 24-hour curfew to help stem the ongoing protests embarked upon by Muslim youth in the state capital today.

“During the protest, groups of youths led by some adults in the background attacked the Holy Family Catholic Cathedral at Bello Way, destroying church glass windows, those of the Bishop Lawton Secretariat were also attacked and a community bus parked within the premises vandalised.

“St. Kevin’s Catholic Church Gidan Dere, Eastern By-pass, was also attacked and partly burnt; windows of the new hospital complex under construction, on the same premises were shattered.

“They were promptly dispersed by a team of Mobile policemen before they could do further damage.

“The hoodlums also attacked the Bakhita Centre located along Aliyu Jodi Road and burnt down a bus within the premises.”