28th August, 2011
The Bauchi Police Command has arrested a 27-year-old woman for attempting to set ablaze St. John’s Cathedral Church on Yandoka road in Bauchi.
The Police Public Relations Officer of Bauchi State Command, Mr. Mohammed Barau, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that members of the church arrested the woman and informed the police.
Barau said that the woman was caught with a jerry can and a lighter while trying to set the church ablaze.
He said the suspect, who was an indigene of Benue, walked into the church around 12.30 a.m on Saturday and tried to set the church ablaze.
The spokesman said the suspect was under police custody, adding that investigation was on to find out the motive behind her action.
The Catechist of the church, Mr. John Daniel, said he was at the priest house within the church compound when he heard people shouting.
“When I came out, she had ran out of the compound and as God would have it, the members who saw her chased and caught her,” he said.
Daniel said the suspect on entering the church poured fuel on the chairs inside and lit a lighter.
She was said to be on her way out when a member who was in the church saw her and raised an alarm.
“We had to rush in and put out the fire and fortunately for us, a man praying in the church saw her and called that the gates should be locked.
“But the security men did not understand what he was saying and before the gate was locked, she had ran out while he pursued and caught her.
“After interrogating the suspect, the police were alerted and she was handed over to them,” he said.