By Okee Sydney-Obiukwu, Editor-in-Chief & Eric Oparaoha, Managing Editor.
We are really living in interesting times indeed, as the mysterious incident that occurred last weekend in Nassarawa, expressly suggests. Why so?
On Saturday last week, it was reported that residents of Assakio Development Area of Lafia, Nasarawa State were thrown into confusion following the sudden appearance of a strange cross that measured five feet, away from a central mosque in that community.
The mysterious sighting attracted a mammoth crowd from Assakio and its environs with many praying for forgiveness of their sins and blessings. Our correspondent who visited the community, observed that already, the community which was deserted in the past due to the incessant religion and ethnic clashes have received an unprecedented visitors from different parts of the state and beyond, purposely to sight the mysterious cross, which was illuminated projected on to the ground.
A 15 year-old-girl, Hajara Hussaini, who claimed to be the first person that sighted the cross at about 8pm on Wednesday, when she was sent on an errand by her parents.
She explained that when she saw a strange light, she was gripped by fear and rushed back home to alert her mother, Matan Liman.
According to her mother, Matan, she had sent her daughter to visit her grandmother, when she sighted the cross while returning from the errand.
The Chief Imam of Assakio Central Mosque, Muhammed Iliyasu, who confirmed the incident, told our correspondent that the appearance of the cross within the premises of the mosque was a revelation from God, affirming that “Jesus is also a prophet of God.”
Also confirming the incident to our correspondent, Very Rev. Michael Dogo of the Evangelical Reform Church of Christ, Assakio, described the appearance of the cross as a sign of reconciliation in the community.
Other eyewitnesses who spoke to journalists at the scene expressed fear and bewilderment on the strange development in the community.
According to one Grace Eze, who resides in the Ashige area of the community, she got healed after visiting the scene of the cross.
“I underwent a surgery about two years ago after which I started to experience a movement in my body. But after praying before the cross, I got healed.”
Jonathan Amegwa on his part said he was overwhelmed by the appearance of the cross few meters from mosque.
The Nasarawa State Police Commissioner, Abubakar Sadiq Bello, who also visited the scene of the mysterious cross, told journalists that he visited to ensure that
what has now become a national discuss is not used as a means for religious unrest, as he has already instructed his men to be at alert in the event of eventuality. Sadiq Bello, cautioned against any intolerance between the two religions.