THE NIGERIAN government’s inaction against insecurity has been responsible for the senseless killings in the country. Many are feeling that the authorities have turned a blind eye to what they see as a genocide against Christians. Government pretends to be sleeping but innocent citizens are killed on a daily basis. As former President Goodluck Jonathan aptly put it, ‘It’s difficult to wake someone who pretends to sleep.’ If government cannot protect lives and properties of citizens, then its essence has been defeated. Trump’s suggestion to intervene on behalf of persecuted Christians might help to shake the people who pretend to sleep.
I’ve been following the reactions to Trump’s suggestion, and it’s clear that many people are vehemently opposed to his stance. However, their fervent opposition raises questions about their motives. Are they trying to protect their own interests or undermine efforts to stop the killings?
Government and its security agencies have not been able to expose any of the financiers of terrorism in Nigeria. Nigerians should be outraged by the APC government’s betrayal. Many were deceived into supporting their rise to power, with promises of change and reform. Yet, today, few dare to criticise the government. The silence on the ongoing killings is deafening. Meanwhile, the international community, with its diplomatic presence and intelligence networks, is well aware of the situation and they are furnishing their home governments with the right information.
Some deny the existence of a Christian genocide in Nigeria, pointing to the broad impact of insecurity. However, examining the identity and motives of the perpetrators reveals a different narrative. Jihadist extremists, masquerading as Islamic, are responsible for many attacks, targeting Christians and some Muslims who disagree with their madness and radical approach.
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When Christians cry out about being targeted for their faith, we must acknowledge the specific nature of their persecution. While it’s true that Muslims are also victims, the key point is that the ideology driving these attacks is rooted in jihadist extremism, not Christianity. Muslims are often killed for refusing to join or conform to these radical beliefs, highlighting the stark difference in motivations.
It’s crucial to acknowledge the difference in how violence is perpetrated. There’s no record of Christians killing Muslims in the name of Jesus. However, numerous incidents involve mobs shouting ‘Allahu Akbar‘ while attacking churches and killing innocent people. These incidents have occurred in various parts of Nigeria, including Borno, Plateau, Benue, Kano, Kaduna, Adamawa and so many parts of Northern Nigeria.
I’m outraged with the government’s failure to protect lives, regardless of faith. As a secular state, Nigeria’s government must ensure that no group exploits religion to perpetuate violence. It’s the duty of government to prevent religious extremism.
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The proliferation of jihadist elements in the country is a direct result of the government’s lax approach to insecurity, sending a signal that Nigeria is a safe haven for extremist ideologies.
In Nigeria if the Jihadists kill you, they take over your ancestral land. If You manage to kill them in self-defence, the same government that refused to protect you from them will sentence you to death by hanging.
Those in government today, specifically the APC, previously sought US intervention in 2014, accusing the Goodluck Jonathan administration of inaction against insecurity. Now, having seized power and with the tenure of the US administration that aided them haven ended, they point fingers at each other for orchestrating heinous acts like the Chibok and Dapchi schoolgirl kidnappings.
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Government and its security agencies have not been able to expose any of the financiers of terrorism in Nigeria. Nigerians should be outraged by the APC government’s betrayal. Many were deceived into supporting their rise to power, with promises of change and reform. Yet, today, few dare to criticise the government. The silence on the ongoing killings is deafening. Meanwhile, the international community, with its diplomatic presence and intelligence networks, is well aware of the situation and they are furnishing their home governments with the right information.
We have also heard stories and accusation of politicians bringing in terrorists and camping them in many forests in Nigeria with the plot to remove Jonathan by force if he fails to go in 2015. All these allegations ought to have been verified by security agencies and culprits brought to book.
In Nigeria if the Jihadists kill you, they take over your ancestral land. If You manage to kill them in self-defence, the same government that refused to protect you from them will sentence you to death by hanging.
Our focus should be on the government’s inaction in the face of insecurity, rather than reacting to Trump’s threats. The real issue is the government’s inability to protect its citizens and its apparent loss of authority to enemies of the state. This is what’s eroding our sovereignty, emboldening external actors to intervene.
