Abuja 10 Oct (ANA) - A prominent Nigerian televangelist has given 5m naira ($16,000; £13,000) to a woman who was allegedly the victim of an acid attack by her fiance, the local Vanguard newspaper reports. Pastor Joshua Iginla said he had donated the money towards reconstructive surgery for Jamila Yusuf, 26, in India after she had acid thrown at her, the newspaper reports. It quotes the televangelist, based in the capital, Abuja, as saying: I think Nigerians should rise up to defend the rights of women; to lay your hands on a woman is injustice. “I am not doing this for her because she is a member of my church. I don’t know her from anywhere. She’s even a Muslim and not a Christian. We are only doing this to preach love and not to convert her to Christianity after her surgery in India." Pastor Iginla said if he would donate a further $16,000 towards her surgery if it was not raised through a public appeal for aid. Nigerian doctor John Eghosa was quoted by the newspaper as saying Ms Yusuf has already had surgery to preserve her eyes in the northern city of Kaduna. She had 60% burns on her face and 10% burns on her body, he said, Vanguard reports.(ANA)

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