9th May, 2012
Last week, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, President Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor issued what he called the final warning to the Federal Government on the continuous killing of its members by Boko Haram. In a press statement, he warned that millions of Christians in the states affected by Boko Haram have become agitated and aggrieved, thereby making it difficult for CAN to guarantee any form of co-operation from its members should there be a fresh attack on the churches. Please listen to Pastor Oritsejafor: “I will make a final call – I repeat a final call, to the Nigerian government to clearly refine and neutralise the problem as other nations have done. The church leadership has hitherto put great restraint on aggrieved millions but can no longer guarantee such co-operation if the trend of terror is not halted immediately”.
Fellow Nigerians, these are indeed troubled times for Nigeria. It looks as if all the devils in the world have been let loose and their destination is Nigeria, especially Northern Nigeria. They first struck at the Police Headquarters, Abuja and proceeded from there to hit the United Nations Headquarters in Abuja. From the UN building they moved to the churches. Archbishop Doeme said recently during a Sermon at St Mary’s Catholic Church Karu in Abuja that he has lost over 70 parishioners. From the church, the killers moved to the press, attacking THISDAY and THE SUN Newspapers. They warned that more newspapers will be visited soon. As if that was not enough, the murderers have taken their killings to the universities. Ado Bayero University in Kano was hit two Sundays ago and the target was the Sunday morning worshippers.
The Nigerian government may still be dismissing the activities of Boko Haram as a power game that will soon fizzle out but I see their actions and deeds as open declaration of war on the Nigerian state. The sect has challenged the police, the world, the church, the press and the academia. The sect means business and we have to see it as such. Let no one be deceived, Nigeria is not going to be the same again.
Christians including this writer believe that shedding of human blood in whatever guise is sin. Christians also believe that you cannot help God to fight His own battle. Christians know the story of King Hezekiah, king of Judah and Sennacherib king of Assyria. King of Assyria mocked God and sent a letter to Hezekiah threatening to wipe out Judah from the face of the earth. Hezekiah took the letter and went to the Temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord and prayed. The night king of Assyria planned to decimate the people of Judah, the angel of the Lord went out and put to death 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies. I am told Sennacherib King of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. He was later killed by his two sons.
I repeat that Boko Haram menace is pure politics – politics of 2015 for that matter. But this deadly politics may even consume the progenitors of Boko Haram. Prayers are pouring into the heavens and the good God that we serve will not abandon us when the need is greatest. The battle is for the Lord.
Over 1000 Nigerians have been killed by the sect since the war started and these are no goats or chickens. Those who live by the sword will die by the sword. Case rested!
•Igbokwe wrote from Lagos.