The recent designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern by the United States of America over the incessant killing of Christians was an embarrassing national security rating and categorisation – one which has elicited mixed reactions. Fury from government circle and relief to victims of terrorism. From Kaduna to Plateau; Benue to Taraba, the killing no doubt has become the new normal. The Islamic terrorists have one clear agenda – to kill, displace communities and take over their lands. This senseless killing was a topic Donald Trump queried and expressly condemned during Buhari’s state visit to America.
However, Trump lost his re-election bid to Joe Biden in 2019 and it seemed the matter had died a natural death. Buhari who was at the centre of the storm then came back home and did absolutely nothing to stop the carnage. The then government which relied on it’s friendship with the Democrats never acted decisively but continued to downplay the dangers and negative effects of the scourge. Regular issuance of press statements monotonously expressing shock after every attack was the much done.
Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah – the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese had before now led an advocacy visit to the United States against the killings of Christians in Nigeria. Many other Christian leaders like Prophet Isah el-Buba are fiercely outspoken against the ugly tide especially in Plateau, Benue and Taraba states. Theophilus Danjuma a war veteran and retired General in the Nigerian Army had also called for self defence in the face of these attacks.
Even the leadership of All Progressive Congress (APC) led by Buhari, John Oyegun and Tinubu visited America in 2014 for the same purpose. The recent appearance of the Catholic Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe of Makurdi Diocese before the US Congress reinforced earlier complaints and revealed the deepest underbelly of the crisis leading to Trump’s action. While Nigerians got fed up with the antics of government and their collaborators, the victims grieved, seek God for help and the blood of the dead cried for vengeance. God answered their prayer and in a way that unsettles men and the government.
The argument that Islam is a religion of peace, and that those who kill are not devout Muslims is neither here nor there. How could one believe that a killer who attends Catholic church and always recite hail Mary or the creed before shooting his victims dead is not a real Catholic? What creates more distrust is the audacity of theses murderous group who gleefully justify their evil actions by quoting the Quran or boasting of their criminality as one sanctioned by Allah.
Boko Haram and bandits are one and the same Islamic jihadists who hate people of and other religions. Why do they always shout Allahu’arkbar (god is great) during and after committing their heinous acts? The constant attacks launched against Christians communities are predetermined. They are aimed at conquering locals and eventually take over of their ancestral rich agricultural lands as can be seen in southern Kaduna, Benue, Plateau and Taraba.
When the killings initially begun in the North-East, northern elders, politicians and religious leaders saw nothing wrong with it provided it promotes Islamic expansionist ideology. Borno state was a testing ground for the planned imposition of Islam on the entire country, attacks launched on other states reinforces the agenda; instilling fear.
Prominent Islamic organisations had also maintained a studied criminal silence when Christians are murdered in their numbers. Ja’amatul Nasril Islam (JNI) and the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) will chose to fight dirty with Christian schools over wearing of Hijab by female students while they look the other way as terrorists decimate communities. We have been lying to ourselves for too long and it seems America even know us better for who we are.
Late Muhammadu Buhari once said in an interview that; “any attack on Boko Haram by Jonathan’s administration is an attack on the north.” No muslim had a contrary view to Buhari’s stance then? Sheik Mahmud Gumi was once quoted by saharareporters.com telling northerners in 2014; “don’t vote for politicians who will attack, kill bandits; they are our warriors in forests.” The guardian reported him also as saying, “allow bandits to guard our forests for peace to reign.”
Isah Pantami an Islamic Cleric, who served as minister of Communication and Digital Economy in Buhari’s administration was also quoted by Peoples Gazette to have said that; “Boko Haram terrorists are our muslim brothers, shouldn’t be killed like pigs.” Gumi is currently the amnesty negotiator and spokesman of the terrorists suggesting favourable measures as panacea to ending their madness. Both clerics never reckoned for once the magnitude of ordeals victims had faced in the hands of those barbarians.
Nigerian government especially that of former president Buhari treated terrorists with kid gloves. Members of Boko Haram who killed thousands including the military are said to have currently enlisted in the armed forces while government reintegration programmes absolve them of any crime. In fact, the overall response of government still reinforced the decade, old and fluid narrative which deodorises evil prompting the designation in the first place. The tragedy of Nigeria is obvious in the penchant to always create equal muslim and christian victims narratives to explain away criminality, government’s ineptitude and that of leaders alike in the face of the ravaging security threat. Must the two religions in Nigeria compete for who is affected most in every national tragedy?
Showing more commitment with convincing plans or practical actions taken to address the issues should top government’s priority instead of rehashing the old storylines and expect the victims or Trump to believe. Is this current government, those who were in that of late Buhari and their supporters claiming that what is happening in southern Kaduna, Benue, plateau and Taraba are fabrications? The sore point remains that government has failed woefully in it’s primary responsibility of protecting lives and properties. Now, that they have been caught napping, the knee-jerk reaction seen now, is the best government could offer. If Trump was rash by calling Nigeria a disgraced nation and the government a broken and confused administration, his view reflected what is on ground.
Nigerians who are happy with Trumps announcement do so because government has failed to deal with the issue decisively. These category of people love and desire a more prosperous Nigeria than those who remind us of the ulterior motives of America and how they destroyed other nations with the pretext of restoring national order. In fact, an average Nigerian has lost every sense of dignity, respect, honour and pride. Therefore, he has nothing more to lose. It is only the political class stealing the nation dry and their accomplices who are living in fear.
People are fed up with the laxity of the current political leadership to confront insecurity and improve the living condition of citizens. Therefore, if a more powerful nation like America gives an impression of salvaging the situation as it were, what do you expect? Joy of course, even if not well intended. Citizens naturally become patriotic when government is sensitive to their needs. The sovereignty of nations does not rests on cheap talk or a quick reminder to everyone of who or what you are. It must be built on good governance and sustained by overwhelming support of happy citizens.
Sunday Onyemaechi Eze, is a lecturer, Department of Mass Communication and Head, Internationalisation and Partnership, Coal City University, Enugu.
