Beyond pain, fear and fury

With all the killings and kidnappings in the land, there is anger and pain in the hearts of all lawful citizens. One of the strategies of the terrorists is to cause disaffection and mutual suspicion among Christians and Muslims. The terrorist would want to ignite a religious war. I pray that we do not fall into this trap. Recently, the argument has been the highest number between Christians and Muslims that have been killed and displaced by Boko Haram. This unfortunate comparison is a result of the pronouncements of the terrorists. What can we do? There could be some progress in the effort of protecting life and property if Muslims and Christians jointly take the protest against terrorism as a common concern rather than criticizing the actions of each other in these difficult times. Let Muslims and Christians collaborate with government to secure the life of the citizens.  I believe that the government has enough capacity to bring any criminal to justice.

No one can sleep in a room with the full awareness that a poisonous snake is hiding in the same room. This is why the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has directed all Christians to observe three days of fasting and prayers for God to save Nigerians especially Christians from the dreaded Boko Haram from January 31 to February 2, 2020. What if all religious adherents should pray against terrorism, kidnapping and all forms of criminal activities now? Dr Élodie Apard did a study on “The Words of Boko Haram”. She specializes in the study of political processes in Niger and Nigeria and the analysis of cross-border movements, particularly religious flows, between these two countries. She identified Boko Haram as a terrorist group that is fighting “international jihad” from the speeches of Mohammed Yusuf and Abubakar Shekau.  Listening to the speeches which are translated from Hausa and Kanuri, it could be perceived that the words from Boko Haram were powerful enough to threaten the stability of Nigeria’s Federal Government, and that of neighbouring countries. “Yusuf started out in the Izala Society movement in early 2000; he received a theological education inspired by Wahhabism and Salafism. Gradually, Yusuf adopted a very rigid position against the government, Democracy, and Western education. Following a voluntary exile in Saudi Arabia, Yusuf returned to Nigeria in 2005 and became a preacher (https://www.cairn-int.info/article-E_AFCO_255_0043–the-words-of-boko-haram.htm).

In his preaching, Yusuf denounced corruption, inequalities, excessive violence by the police, the army and against those who acted with impunity. He condemned injustice and this made his recorded sermons from 2006 to circulate very widely in neighbouring countries like Niger where he became famous for his aversion to the Western education. Until 2009, the movement was called Yusufiyya, or “Yusuf’s ideology.” He uses verses from the Qur’an and Hadith to urge followers to arm themselves, kill, and take up jihad. He was consistent in condemning oppressive secular government; exploitation of Muslims, promotion of jihad and glorification of martyrdom. After the killing of Yusuf in July 2009, the group was dormant for nearly one year until June 2010, when Abubakar Shekau, appeared in a video message announcing that he would lead the movement. He gave it the official name Jamā’at Ahl al-Sunnah Lidda’awat wa-l-Jihād (Sunni Group for the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad). Abubakar Shekau transformed the group from a religious sect to an armed group.

How do we interpret these messages from Shekau: “We are also against those who pretend to be us and whom they lump together with us so that they can fight us? We will not touch the others.” “We are also against Christians because everyone knows what they’ve done to us and the fate they reserve for Muslims: not once, not twice, but many times, hence our position.”  “Everyone knows how they killed our leaders, and everyone knows how they treat us. Everyone knows what they have been doing to Muslim people in this country for some time. For example, in the town of Kaduna, in Zangon Kataf, in the villages, they did many things to the Muslim community of this country, and these things happened without a fight.” “Deceit is unholy, and as Allah says, division is a sin. Everyone knows that democracy is also unholy, that the constitution is unholy, and that many things Allah forbids in the Koran and the hadith are taught in Western schools (https://www.cairn-int.info/article-E_AFCO_255_0043–the-words-of-boko-haram.htm).

I believe that the statements from Boko Haram are enough to provoke fear of religious annihilation. In the various kidnappings by Boko Haram, the reason for not releasing the captives has been the refusal to convert. Those killed have been alleged to be killed because they refuse to convert. We may not see the fear of the Christians being provoked by any possible plan of the government to wipe out a particular religion. If ever the government contributes to this phobia, it is because the common person relies on the security apparatus of government that ought to be sufficient to secure and protect the citizens. The Muslims too are afraid because many Muslims have been killed and the name of Islam is being abused by the terrorists. The Orthodox Muslims have said loud and clear that Boko Haram is not Islamic. Unfortunately, the terrorists claim to be more faithful Muslims than those who do not carry arms. Real Muslims find it difficult to explain why a person should proclaim Allahu Akbar (God is great) and then go ahead to behead a fellow human being.

Only God knows why Boko Haram has lingered for so long. In as much as the gun cannot kill an ideology, many believe that with committed political will, the Nigerian Army can overrun Boko Haram. We are talking about the Army that has restored peace to Liberia and Sierra-Leon. Yes, the Army that the West African Communities look up to. God forbids that any political or military officer should be an accomplice or enabler of the homicide that is ravaging every corner of the nation especially the North East as it is being speculated in the media! God forbids that any Traditional Ruler or Religious Leader is a sponsor or beneficiary of the genocide that has taken the lives of millions of human beings who are created by God to freely live on earth for a purpose! God forbids that any member of the Judiciary is giving cover to this evil to thrive!

The rate of kidnapping and killings are giving rise to so many questions among which are: Is it that those who should protect life and property cannot now do so? Who are the real beneficiaries and conflict profiteers in this criminal operations?  Is all hope in the national security architecture lost to a point that each person and region must resort to self-protection and security?    Beyond the anger and pain that is generating these questions, what do we do or what can we do? I insist that Faithful Muslims and Christians should not turn against each other. We must rather come together to appeal to the government to do the needful. Nigerians are dying, let us call criminals by their real name. I do not have all the answers to these questions. So I ask you, what can we do to protect life and property beyond pain, fear and fury!

Rev. Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua is the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) ([email protected])