Yet again, Nigerian Christians bleed; unfortunately, no one seems to care. Few weeks ago, it was in Sokoto where a young woman, Miss Deborah Samuel Yakubu was horrifically murdered by her classmates who also happened to be Islamic fundamentalists on the vague accusation that she blasphemed against Prophet Mohammed (Peace be Upon Him). Some of us who understood and have written on religious violence in Nigeria warned that the killing of Miss Deborah was not going to be an isolated case and that unless Christians act and act very strongly, there would be many more cases of such killings.
But did Christians leaders, security agents and the government of the day act strongly against the murderers of Deborah? Not at all, rather what we got was some lamentations and imbecilic complaints here and there. I had no doubt it would happen again. When you treat killers with soft-gloves, they don’t stop, rather they become emboldened and the massacre continues. Therefore, in less than a month after Miss Deborah’s horrific killing, the killer of Christians struck again yesterday. This time around, it was in the heart of Southern Nigeria: St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo Ondo State. To confirm our fear, this time around the attack was bolder by the sheer fact of the target but by the number of people killed: a conservative figure put the number at 50 persons but unconfirmed reports are saying, the number might be twice the figure.
Who carried out the Massacre in Owo?
In the US and perhaps all around the world, terrorists when they kill, takes responsibility. Unfortunately and dangerously too, one thing about religious killing in Southern Nigeria is that the perpetrators hardly claim responsibility, making the crime difficult to unravel. Therefore, the killing in Owo is already shrouded in controversy. Already, some are already reporting that, “it was a bomb attack”, and that the terrorists who planted the bombs were from “Mali” and “Libya”. However, the questions that beg for answers here include, bomb blast with no structure destroyed, no seats damaged, no traces of explosive materials; no dismembered body parts, but dead bodies in the pool of their blood with bullet wounds? The bomb attack theory seems to hold no water.
Terrorists from Mali? Ondo state has no land, sea or air boundaries with Mali; so from where and when did these terrorists get to Nigeria and headed straight to St. Francis, Owo? Who invited them to Nigeria? Is the Parish of St. Francis at war with Malian Terrorists? Whatever could have triggered this attack by Malian terrorists is interesting and very worthy of investigation.
Owo is a Clear Case of Religious Persecution not Terrorist Attack
When Miss Deborah was killed in Sokoto, highly placed Nigerian Moslems warned that they would not tolerate any form of blasphemy against Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be upon Him). The warnings sent a clear message to Christians and to Nigerian authorities that though Nigeria claims to be a secular state, Moslems see Nigeria as Islamic and would not hesitate to use violence to get what they want and anywhere they want it. This warning was repeated few days ago when a young man was set ablaze in Nigerian capital city of Abuja still under the accusation that he blasphemed against the Prophet. More than 200 Islamic fanatics were involved in that crime. Was anyone of them arrested for the crime? Obviously, no one was arrested. A statement released by Abuja municipal police made it clear that the police were more interested in restoring order and normalcy in the area than looking for the criminals who just snuffed life out of a young man in the name of blasphemy.
Therefore, instead of pointing accusing fingers on Malians and Libyans, one would think it is more rational to see the attack as a clear case of religious persecution of the Christian faith in Nigeria; a persecution striving under the watchful eye of the President Mohammadu Buhari’s government. The Church is under attack. The kidnapping of priests, killing of the faithful has been on for sometime now and has unfortunately become a tradition. By these incessant attacks against the body of Christ, a teething question is raised concerning religious freedom in Nigeria!
What are Southern Political Leaders and Security Agents Doing about this?
Next year is Nigerian general election and most of the big wigs in the politics of Southern Nigeria are interested in becoming presidents or vice-presidents. These have always felt that the bulk of Nigerian voting power is in the North and speak against the North where most of the terrorists attacking the South are groomed would be a political suicide. This was exactly, Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar, the winner of PDP presidential primaries could not muster the courage to condemn the killing of Deborah because he felt that would cost him his political ambition. Hence, one can only congratulate especially Southern political leaders for putting their political ambitions, their families and luxurious lifestyle before the common good of their people. They have sold out their people and lands for plates of porridge.
I will also like to congratulate the security agencies in Nigeria for their intelligence and commitment to securing the lives and property of the poor masses. They are always on top of the situation which continuously becomes worsened the more they sit on top of it. I as well congratulate the government of the day for the real change she has brought to Nigeria.
As security is the greatest challenge in our society today, let CCTV be everywhere. So that we could at least confirm whom our attackers are to avoid the Malian story.
Honestly, if you ask my personal opinion, I don’t believe in the ongoing campaigns for 2023 election and beyond as far as Nigeria is concerned. Nigeria needs to be renegotiated before any election! No election can salvage the deplorable state of the Nigeria. Even if the right person emerges, what about those who would work with him? What about the already compromised security agencies! A nation as tribally and religiously divided as Nigeria is, cannot be objective in electing a leader. Even if they do, how objectively would they support his administration without sabotage?
I have said it before and perhaps I should say it again, in the final analysis, the Church in Nigeria can do more than pray! The Church needs help both locally and internationally! Let those who have the voice speak out! Security measures should also be put in place within the Church structure. Time is now!
