Release International

Muslim students at a school in Kaduna state have tried to scupper Christians' attempts to rebuild their chapel, with two arson attacks in as many months.

Interfaith relations at the Government Science Secondary School in Zaria city have been strained since 2004, when Muslim pupils first burned down the Chapel of Adonai. Tensions have soared again after two attempted arson attacks on the chapel which was only rebuilt last year. Christian staff and pupils managed to thwart both attacks -- in December and January -- by stamping out the fires before they took hold.

Pastor Samuel Nuhu, a teacher and patron of the Fellowship of Christian Students at the school, said the latest attack had not been unexpected. Two letters had been dropped into the chapel warning of violence unless Christian staff and students left.

The school was founded by the Church of Nigeria as a Christian high school and called St Paul's College. But the government forcibly took it over in 1973, changing its name and provoking many Christians to leave. Of its 1,000 students today, only 300 are Christian.  School officials say they have now notified the Kaduna state Ministry of Education about the threats to Christian staff and pupils -- but with no effect, says Compass Direct. Kaduna state introduced Sharia or Islamic law in 2000.

• Thank God for the determination of Christian staff and students to resurrect their chapel. Pray that their right to worship freely will be respected and protected.
• Pray for improved relations between Muslims and Christians at the school, so that tolerance will take the place of enmity.

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