The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, has pleaded with members of the Islamic community alleged to have destroyed a church in Atebubu to exercise restraint and to explore peaceful means of resolving the differences responsible for the unfortunate incident.

The cleric, who is currently on an official engagement in the United States after being briefed by his advisory board following the security breach, according to Sheikh Armeyau Shuaib, authorised that a release calling for restraint be issued.

“Matters of disagreement between members of different faith such as Islam and Christianity should be resolved devoid of violence,” the Chief Imam remarked in the release.

Continuing, he lamented, “It is regrettable that violence was resorted to in a matter which could have been handled otherwise. The destruction of a church as a result of a disagreement is inappropriate and has no place in Islam.”

Meanwhile, upon a further direction from the Chief Imam, an official of his office has been dispatched to Atebubu to meet with representatives of both the Islamic and Christian communities with a view to establishing exactly what happened and taking stock of the items destroyed in the course of the mayhem that ensued on that fateful day.

A group of Muslims last week engaged the police in a fight when the law enforcement agents sought to prevent them from further carrying out mayhem on an SDA church in Atebubu in the Brong Ahafo Region.

The Ahli Sunna sect erroneously reported to have been behind the violence has since denied involvement in the act.