A Christ Apostolic Church branch has been sanctioned by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Oyo State after bloody attacks on a Muslim family in Iseyin.
Speaking with newsmen on Sunday yesterday, Apostle Sunday Ogundairo, CAN chairman in Iseyin Local Government Area said the Christian body has gone pleading with the Muslim leaders in the town.
He added that the pastor has been sanctioned by CAN.
“I have gone round pleading with the Islamic scholars in Iseyinland. They should please soft-pedal their annoyance. It is glaring that the man (pastor) was guilty. CAN in Iseyin has also sanctioned the pastor and ordered him to look for another place to locate his church.
“The case started since last year and we have always settled the issue before the one which happened on Sunday”, he said.
Apostle Ogundairo assured that talks are ongoing with the Muslim community to ensure that peace is maintained.
A widely circulating video had indicted the pastor and some congregation of Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Imuse, Iseyin of battering Mr. Sulaimon AbdulAzeez and his two wives who were in purdah.
The victims narrated how the pastor had hired soldiers to unleash havoc on them for allegedly slaughtering ram while facing their church.
According to AbdulAzeez, his heavily pregnant wife was severely beaten and dragged to the church premises by the pastor while his other wife’s head was smashed.
The attacks which occurred on Eid day have been condemned by the Muslim Rights Council (MURIC), CAN and other religious groups.
According to MURIC’s Executive Director, Prof. Isiaq Akintola, there has been a misunderstanding between the Muslim family and the church over noise pollution, a case which he said the king of Iseyin had to intervene.
