Muslim authorities in eastern Nigeria have threatened to expropriate a piece of land belonging to Missionary Crusaders Ministries (MCM), a Nigerian Christian organisation.  MCM bought the land intending to build a school of missions and discipleship.

US-based Christian Aid Mission (CAM), which supports Nigeria-based MCN [sic], confirmed to BosNewsLife that government officials came to [MCM founder Gabriel] Barau last weekend "and told him to start building a wall immediately or they would take away two-thirds of the land he has bought for MCN."

CAM did not provide more details on the exact location of the mission school, apparently for security reasons. Since 1983, MCM has been working in northern and central parts of eastern Nigeria, providing aid and evangelizing among local Koma people, despite reported threats from Muslim officials and militants in the area.

MCM workers believe that the recent election of a Muslim as president of Nigeria has encouraged Muslim state governments in northern Nigeria to obstruct and harass Christian activities.

Missionary workers told BosNewsLife that the "biggest threat" to MCM's operations "is Islam." In May, Nigerians elected a Muslim president, Umaru Yar'Adua, who served as governor of the remote northern Katsina state since May 1999.
. . .
Christian native missionaries have suggested that President Yar' Adua's election has emboldened authorities in Muslim states who they, claim oppose Christian projects such as MCM's mission school. "Muslim leaders now govern the state where [MSM founder] Gabriel Barau works," CAM added.

Mr Barau has been informed that, unless an expensive wall is built around the property, the state will seize most or all of it.  Fund-raising efforts are now underway.

h/t: International Christian Concern

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