By Sam Eyoboka
EXACTLY a year ago,Nigeria wrote her name in the terrorist list, when a 23-year-old Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, was alleged to have attempted to blow up an American airline on Christmas eve. The Northwest Airlines Flight 253 was an international passenger-flight from the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Michigan, United States.

Oritsejafor

The flight was the target of a failed alleged al-Qaeda bombing attempt on December 25, 2009, in which the young Nigerian, a passenger, tried to set-off plastic explosives sewn to his underwear. There were 290 people on board the plane, which was operated by Northwest Airlines.

A Dutch passenger, Jasper Schuringa, tackled and restrained him as others put out the fire. Abdulmutallab was then handcuffed while the pilot safely landed the plane. In all, three people were injured: Abdulmutallab, Schuringa, and one other passenger. Upon landing in Detroit, Abdulmutallab was arrested and taken to a hospital for treatment of his burns. On December 28, 2009, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), claimed responsibility for the attempted bombing.

That incidence immediately thrust Nigeria to the forefront of Western security concerns and raised fears that al-Qaeda may be exploiting the possibility of using Nigeria as a launch pad for more terrorist attacks on the African continent as the world is turning the heat on Afghanistan and Yemen. However, Nigeria’s name has been removed from the terror-watch list.

Strangely though, events in the last couple of days, had become frightening, especially with the Christmas Eve bomb blasts which claimed over 80 lives in different parts of the Plateau State capital, Jos and several others injured.

Almost simultaneously, certain unidentified individuals attacked a church in the Borno State capital, Maiduguri, where they killed a pastor and four of his elders who were holding a meeting apparently in preparation for the celebration of the progenitor of the Christian faith, Jesus Christ. Few hours later, a Muslim group identifying itself as Jama’atu Ahlus-Sunnah Lidda’Awati Wal Jihad claimed responsibility for both assaults.

Moved by the strange security concerns, the leadership of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, held a joint World Press Conference in Lagos where the Sultan of Sokoto and the President of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the founder of Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, took a cursory look at the strange development.

The twosome, after blaming the problem on disgruntled politicians who are using religion to fester their nests, called on the Federal Government to check the growing tendency of terrorism in the country, warning that the development could truncate this year’s general elections.

While the two leaders were still trying to gauge the outcome of their conference in Lagos, there came further reports of another violent uprising in Maiduguri leaving several persons including policemen dead. In response to that renewed attack, the umbrella body of Christians in Nigeria, CAN summoned an emergency meeting of its leaders to Abuja to review the situation.

The meeting was attended by Oritsejafor; General Secretary, Mr. Samuel Salifu, the legal adviser/director of publicity, Mr. Albert Uko and all the leaders of the five confederating units that make up CAN. Other eminent leaders who attended the meeting included the Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence Sunday Ola Makinde, the Secretary General of the Nigeria Baptist Conference, Rev. Solomon Ishola and several other leaders.

At the end of the meeting which took place at CAN national headquarters, Abuja, last Wednesday which was summoned to review the recent crisis in Jos and Maiduguri, CAN expressed its heartfelt sympathy to the families of Christian brothers and sisters who were killed “without any provocation in the recent deadly attack that occurred in some parts of Jos and Maiduguri respectively.”

The body also used the occasion to sympathise with their fellow brethren who were maimed, injured, displaced or in anyway affected by the deadly attacks.

In a statement signed by Oritsejafor and Salifu, the Christian body prayed to God to give the brethren the courage and fortitude to bear the situation.
And, quite understandably, it condemned, in very strong and unequivocal terms, “the wanton, unprovoked and senseless killing and maiming of innocent, peace-loving and law-abiding citizens in the recent wave of deadly attacks in some parts of Jos, Plateau State and Maiduguri, Borno State. CAN similarly condemns the burning of churches and destruction of valuable properties belonging to Christians in the affected areas.

The Christian leaders were greatly disturbed that, on the eve of one of the most important Christian celebrations (Christmas), “a sacrilege of this nature was carried out by criminals and terrorists. We are aware that no known sacred religious book allows acts of violence and killings of innocent persons both in doctrine and practice.”

CAN is concerned that the senseless and unprovoked attacks on Christians and Christian Churches in the affected states are getting too frequent to be ignored. It, therefore, warned that violence is not an exclusive preserve of any tribe or religion, but it pays to live together in peace and harmony.

“These acts of violence and arson against peace-loving and law-abiding Christians and our churches in some parts of the country must stop now as churches are not political/party offices. There is a limit to human tolerance,” the statement added, pointing out that CAN is committed to the Nigerian Project. “The unity and progress of Nigeria cannot be compromised by the actions of some unpatriotic and misguided individuals who have the erroneous belief that they can use violence and religious fanaticism to achieve selfish interest, political or otherwise.”

“The Federal Government of Nigeria and the various security agencies should do everything possible to identify and punish the perpetrators of these evil acts and in the process establish a lasting solution to this problem,” the statement stressed.

Appreciating Federal Government, state governments especially those that played host to the crises, world leaders, various security agencies and well-meaning corporate citizens including some patriotic Muslim leaders who came out with one voice to condemn the barbaric acts, the leaders urged the Federal Government not to fold its hands. According to the statement, “concerted and consistent effort coupled with political will must be made by all Nigerians to stop this monster that is threatening the peace and unity of our dear country, Nigeria.”

CAN, therefore, went ahead to urge the Federal Government and all relevant security agencies to ensure that the right and freedom of all law-abiding citizens as constitutionally guaranteed are protected and preserved wherever they are.

The statement also appealed to the Federal Government, all state governments, corporate citizens and kind spirited individuals in the country to rise to the rescue of the affected Christians in both towns by donating relief materials to cushion the effects of the crises and ameliorate the suffering of identified victims of these violent attacks.

Specifically, the umbrella body of Christians charged the government to give quality compensation to victims of previous and current violent attacks in every part of the North, this the leaders argue will aptly demonstrate to the Christian Community that Northern Christians are part and parcel of this entity called Nigeria and that they are free to worship their God as others do. In addition, the government must do everything possible to prosecute the masterminds of the most recent crises, because as the saying goes justice delayed is justice denied.

To demonstrate its faith in God, CAN has taken the divine option when it proclaimed a fast and prayer session. It urged all churches in the country to observe a fast and prayer yesterday, and subsequently on every first day of every month till June to pray for peace and unity of Nigeria, particularly that God will manifest His divine will in the forthcoming national elections. The Christian leaders also encouraged all Christians to watch and pray even in the face of senseless provocation in the affected states.

Current happenings in that part of the country have angered Christian individuals with many of them expressing disgust with the Federal Government. Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie called on the Federal Government to act decisively and promptly to arrest this ugly development in the country, “let it be known that no one has the right to take life, because it belongs to God.

Hence, it must be well protected and respected. We must show tolerance and cultivate the spirit of forbearance and forgiveness and above all, magnanimity this new year. Let us put on the armour of love, for we all are children of God who is Love personified.”

Okogie wondered why the Federal Government had ignored persistent calls by public-spirited individuals in the country about the state of insecurity in the country, pointing out “there have been continuous gruesome assassinations of notable Nigerians not to talk of the tens of unknown citizens that are daily slaughtered like irrational animals. Today, we hear of bomb explosions here and there by faceless people who go under anonymous names.”

The Methodist Prelate, His Eminence Makinde said; “every time mayhem is unleashed on innocent citizens of this country like the one we witnessed in Jos, Plateau State few days ago, the sponsors and perpetrators are never found while nobody is made a scapegoat which is the major reason why this act of terrorism persists. Until those behind these satanic acts are unmasked and brought to justice, our road to a genuinely peaceful and civil society where freedom of assembly, association, worship and movement granted to every citizen of this country by our constitution may just be a dream after all.

It is salient, however, that if the government ceases to act on behalf of these innocent people, God will rise in rage and get justice on their behalf. His anger and wrath will be unleashed upon those blood- thirsty creatures behind this evil madness. In line with the words of the great Cicero who said; “I prefer the most unfair peace to the most righteous war,” I wish to call on all aggrieved parties to sheathe their swords and wait on God for justice and not take laws into their own hands as that will only make the situation worse.”