BOKO HARAM AND THE NIGERIAN CHRISTIAN

Two reports coming from Borno State gives us a fair idea of the dilemma that section of the Nigerian nation is experiencing at the moment. They are the attack on Baga village by soldiers from the Nigerian military in April 2013 and the carnage that occurred in a military base in December 2^nd for which the Boko Haram sect has claimed responsibility. In the former case, the Nigerian security forces are accused of carrying out something close to genocide on a village that was suspected to be harboring Boko Harm terrorists.

Boko Haram

In the latter case these terrorists are seen to have carried out a very successful campaign against a Nigerian military formation that has caused the Nigerian military a great deal of embarrassment. In both incidences, we are at the mercy of the press to know the exact figures of the causalities and we are left to a great deal of speculation as to how these incidences occurred and what informed them. Whatever conclusions may be arrived from them and others like them, something is sure: Borno State is not at peace and the rest of Nigeria has every reason to be bothered about this. It is Borno today, it can be Oyo tomorrow.

This essay is concerned about discussing the Boko Haram challenge and helping the average Nigerian Christian to have a balanced view of it so that we can work together as Nigerians to see the end of this insurgency. It must be stated from the onset that the Boko Haram sect is not Muslim. Yes, they may be said to be an Islamic sect but because of their resort to violence and murdering of innocent people – Muslims and Christians alike – their ideas are far from being Muslim. Rather they have invented a new religion that must be clearly seen as un-Islamic. It is important to state this because it is not uncommon to hear Christians refer to Muslims, in a bid to spite them, as Boko Haram. If a man holds the Islamic ideals but does not support or is not involved with men who kill others to make a political statement, that individual is not Boko Haram and Christians must understand this distinction. I have listened to messages that teach Christians that at the heart of the Islamic message is a love for violence – the Jihad. We

are told that there are a number of verses in the Quran that calls faithful Muslims to kill those who do not accept their religious beliefs. My answer to such is that any warped mind can take any holy book and make it say whatever his demented thinking wants it to say. Even the bible can be interpreted to teach that Jesus supported violence. Consider these scriptures:

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force – Matthew 11:12

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth:  I came not to send peace, but a sword – Matthew 10:35-36

These verses are the very words of Jesus and these are the kind of verses some Christian groups stood on as they embarked on the Crusades in the Middle Ages to restore Jerusalem to Christianity. History is replete with the horrors, murders and un-Christian things these men meted out in the name of Christianity. I am too sure no Christian is ready to call those people “brethren” today when we read of their escapades. This is the same challenge that the average Muslim is facing in the wake of the Boko Haram challenge that has gripped the Nigerian state. Nigerian Christians must understand that these Boko Haram are best referred to as Boko Animals – yes, brand

President Jonathan lending a hand of support to the Military

new animals that have undergone some mutation from human beings. They have become animals not by any supernatural work of the Almighty but by their own resort to be brainwashed by some ideas that are far from Islamic.

Another reason why the average Christian must understand Boko Haram is so that we may realize that these animals are succeeding in planting the seed of hate and distrust in our minds. Boko Haram’s activities have as much Muslims as victims as Christians. At the outset of their campaign they were basically attacking Muslims and only began attacking churches some two years ago. When Mohammed Yusuf, the founder of sect, began preaching in 2002 or thereabout, his messages stood in stark contrast to those of the orthodox Islamic clerics in Maiduguri and most of these clerics warned their people to stay away from the sect. Even way back then Boko Haram was seen as a dangerous group, for even though their violent campaigns had not started in earnest, their messages of hate were incongruous with the messages Muslims listened to on their worship days. For this reason, when these animals took up arms against Nigerian security formations, they also attacked and killed Muslims that did not share their ideas. It was when the scope of their violent campaigns began to widen that they included attacks on churches and the killing of Christians. Boko Haram activities are well documented in the media and they are things of recent history that anyone can cross check. These Boko Animals knew that if they could attack Christians they

Borno State is in North East Nigeria

would set Christians against Muslims and with time a culture of hate and distrust will lead to religious violence that has the likelihood of engulfing the whole country. They have succeeded in doing this in Kaduna state where there is an almost equal population of Muslims and Christians; they are presently stoking the embers of ethnic violence in Jos; and they are simply waiting for the hate and distrust they are succeeding in planting in the hearts of people in the South-West to spill over into full blown religious violence. Christians must understand this plan and resist it with the opposite spirit that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ enjoined on us – a spirit of love. We must think clearly and distinguish the regular Muslim from Boko Haram. We must remind ourselves of the fact that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God – this weapon is that of love enmeshed in a spirit of tolerance and understanding; such spirit that has characterized the relationship between Muslims and Christians in the South-West and which must not be lost to the confusion in the land.

While this essay may be directed more to Christians in this country, I would also use this opportunity to call upon all Muslim to publicly denounce Boko Haram and show that there is a difference between them and these terrorists. There is a sense in it that the actions or inactions of some Muslims have contributed to the fears and suspicion of their Christian counterpart. I have seen only very few Muslim organizations and even clerics denounce these group’s activities in recent times. I can understand the peril they themselves face with the increased popularity of this sect among northern youths who

The Streets of Maiduguri

are mostly poor and ignorant. There is a void in the mindset of this army of jobless youths that Boko Haram has taken advantage of. To speak against their activities in some states in Nigeria can be suicidal. Nonetheless, it must be done. Southern Muslims can help their northern counterparts by championing this course. This will go a long way in dispelling the fears in Christians and it will help them to see the distinction between the true Muslim and Boko Haram.

One thing is certain on my mind: Nigeria will see the end of the murderous sect. We have gone through worse situations before and our God has delivered this nation. God is a Nigerian and because Nigeria is His primary constituency, He will yet save this nation. With this spirit of optimism Christians must approach the place of prayer and call upon God to save Nigeria. Let us pray for our men and women in the armed forces: that God will help them in this onerous job of keeping the security of our fatherland. I look forward to the day when Christians will organize relief efforts for people who have been ravaged by these insurgents’ activities. Let brotherly love continue in Nigeria and let us ensure that hate, suspicion and fear comes to an end. Nigeria is an idea from God and not Lord Luggard. He has his reason for setting up this country and for endowing it so much. We must be the generation that will not fail God but rather be instrumental in bringing his good purpose to pass. Christianity and Islam have clear distinction in beliefs, and for us Christians who are earnest about winning souls for Christ, this attitude of suspicion and mistrust will defeat that purpose. However, an environment of love, tolerance and peace is what will allow us share our convictions with our Muslim counterparts while giving them the freedom to accept or reject our ideas.

When Jesus said Christians are the salt of the earth, he was pointing us to a characteristic that we possess inherently and that is our ability to preserve. Our presence in this nation is preserving its unity. And it is because of our beliefs. The moment we sell our belief in love, tolerance and peace for that of mistrust, suspicion

Says these kids from the north and south of Nigeria

and hate we would loose our ability to preserve this country. Jesus said if salt has lost its flavor, it is only good to be discarded. May we not be the generation that will be recorded in history that witnessed the disintegration or "discarding" of this country. Let us free our minds of suspicion; let us turn our back on hate message; and let brotherly love continue. This way we will see the end of our mutual enemy: Boko Haram, and Nigeria will be saved.