Perhaps only the minister of interior, Mr. Abba Moro, is still in doubt about the brutal killing of seven kidnapped foreign Setraco construction workers by a militant Islamic group, Jama’atu Ansarul Musilimina Fi Biladis Sudan. Other Nigerians and the international community have no doubts.
The minister of Niger Delta Godsday Peter Orubebe-led delegation to the corporate headquarters of Setraco Construction Company yesterday in Abuja to sympathise with the management over the unfortunate incident and the video of the bodies of the foreigners (a Briton, an Italian, a Greek and four Lebanese) posted on the Internet on Monday by the bloodthirsty Islamic group have cleared the little doubt some people may have had.
The countries of the victims have also pronounced them killed. What more proof do we need? The horror video released by the suspected al Qaeda-linked group and dated March 9 has shown a gunman standing next to a pile of bodies, and then close-ups of their faces lit up by a torch with Arabic title, “The Killing of The Seven Christian Hostages in Nigeria.”
And a photo caption of the video reads in Arabic and in English: “In the name of Allah Most Beneficent Most Merciful.” But can these evil men claim to have killed in the name of Allah? No! The senseless reason they gave has shown clearly that they were on the devil’s mission. True, the group said that its members killed the hostages in reaction to reported attempted joint effort by Britain and Nigeria to free the hostages.
No matter their warped excuse, their action is senseless, unfortunate and a heinous crime that should be condemned by all right-thinking people created by God. There are no political and religious reasons or agenda that should warrant the killings and the insecurity logjam in the northern part of our country, which have claimed thousands of innocent lives – both Christians and Muslims.
With the killing of the “Innocent 7”, Nigeria has been forcefully dragged into the club of terrorist countries; Britain, Greece, Lebanon and Italy will now see every Nigerian as a terrorist that must be avoided. In the last 24 hours, some of my friends in the north have told me that foreign nationals, especially Lebanese, have relocated to Abuja and Lagos while some of them have returned to their countries. It also means that no foreigner working with construction companies will ever go to any part of the north again for work.
The huge implication can be imagined when we recollect that most project managers working with highly rated construction companies in the country like Julius Berger, Setraco and others are foreigners. The economic implication of what the deadly groups, Boko Haram and Ansaru, are doing to the north is huge. The once most lucrative commercial activities in places like Kano, Kaduna, Yola and Maiduguri have been crippled and the ordinary people who rely on small-scale businesses are worst hit in what General TY Danjuma described as a civil war.
Politically, the “civil war” in the north is about to consume the entire nation. Yet, some politicians still erroneously believe that the insecurity ravaging the north is President Goodluck Jonathan’s problem or headache. I have consistently argued in this column that the trouble in the north today is a product of many years of neglect by past leaders at all levels of government -- traditional, political class and civil society groups that have failed woefully to continue to keep the political actors on their toes.
The governors, traditional rulers and other well-meaning northerners must stop apportioning blame to one another; they should come together and find solutions to the crisis. It is a shame that amidst all the numerous crises tearing the region apart, what matters to many politicians at present is their selfish and inordinate political ambition in 2015.
Rather than confronting the economic, security and welfare issues facing their people, they are busy wasting the common wealth of the people who entrusted their resources in their care for their selfish agenda, two years away from the general election. If they fail to act today, they will meet the consequence tomorrow.
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Ms Iyobosa, I don't know who you are, but you are gravely mistaken in your article. I live in the north, and honestly the ignorance that you guys in the south display about what's going on in the north is really starting to annoy me. I appreciate the fact that you are condemning the actions of these terrorists, but it's high time we admit what the actual underlying problem is. I'm just going to come out and say it... THE PROBLEM IS ISLAM!!! I'm sure you are thinking to yourself, 'here goes another intolerant person', but allow me to prove my point.
ReplyDeleteYou said "There are no political and religious reasons or agenda that should warrant the killings". Well, i'm glad you feel that way, but the terrorists don't; they are following the Quran to the letter. Surah 9:29 (Quranic chapter) says, and I quote, "Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the last day, nor hold that forbidden which has been forbidden by allah or his messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of truth, even if they are people of the book (jews and christians) until they pay the Jizya with willing submission and find themselves subdued!" Also, Surah 9:123 says, "Oh you who believe fight those of the unbelievers that are near to you and let them find in you hardness". Are you still not convinced that Islam is the problem? Well then, let me give you a word right out of Mohammed's mouth. Sahih al-bukhari 6924 "Mohammed said, 'I have been ordered to fight against people until they say, la ilaha illallah (no one must be worshipped but God), and whoever says la ilaha illallah, Allah will save his life and property from me". Can you see that these terrorists are simply following their god and leader's example?
You liken what these terrorists are doing to a 'civil war'... I don't even know what to say to that. I'm not sure it can even be considered a war when the enemy is fighting against an unarmed opponent.
Even though muslims have lost their lives as a result of the actions of boko haram and the like, it is very very clear that these people are targeting christians and the muslims that died just happened to be in the way.
Islam is a religion as well as a political system: it's an ideology, and all you need to do is google the quran and read it for yourself to see that. It aims to forcefully convert people and create an islamic state ruled by sharia. Until people understand that this is the problem, we will forever be attacking an enemy we know noting about! So to answer your question of why kill in the name of allah, the answer is simple, because allah says so!
I will love to augment the gentleman that commented first. The problem with us here in Nigeria is "Fear", let's call a spade one if we see one -why attribute a bunch of crimes that has even been declared publicly and severally by the perpetrators themselves as political? Please take a look @ the two crucifix of Islam -the first one being the moon and the second being a Crossed swords with a caption written under it "Islam The religion of peace". If I may ask all right thinking and objective human beings, what has peace got to do with sword? If your Quran and messenger has instructed to do all these, why are you hiding to do them? A complete act of cowardice.
ReplyDeletePeople shld begin to put fear aside and say things just exactly they are. Nobody -individual or family has the right to enforce their believe on another.
Our Lord Jesus is more than sufficient to fight for His children and no amount of attack can change that -to set the record straight.
@anonymous 7:35. It seems that we are on the same page, I agree with you on this issue. I'm not sure if you were referring to me or the writer of the article when you mentioned the political thing. But if it was me, then yes, I stand by what I said, Islam is both religious and political. You don't have to agree with me about that, we can discuss it if you want.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, our lord Jesus does not require his people to fight for him, he can fight for himself because he's the God of the universe!
There is no less truth than what has been said above. Prophet Mohd was instructed by Allah to instruct his followers to go about sucking blood and thats what they are doing. You cant outlaw Islam but you can turn away from it since its principles are purely evil as exemplified by its holy book. Every religion has its own deity(god) and they are never thesame. Ppl were fooled into believing that Allah is thesame as the Christian God. But evidence abounds God is God and Allah is on his own cos by their fruit you shall know them. May good triumph over evil in jesus name.
ReplyDeleteWho is that asking if Islam should be outlawed? haven't they done enough harm to everyone? If u want to stay with them, fine by me. Nigeria should be divided or we all perish!
ReplyDeleteIt is unfortunate that most of you are so ignorant that you are quoting the qur'an out of context. The chapter you are referring to was reveal in anger. God gave instructions to the muslims to go out and fight, after an agreement not to fight during a particular period was breached by the unbelievers. The unbelievers breached the agreement and went further to kill muslims.That was when the instructions were given.
ReplyDeleteMost of u dont know about the Qur'an, u only quote what u need and skip what u must read b4 u quote Qur'an, i mean u need knowledge of translating the Qur'an b4 u quote Qur'an,.
ReplyDeletechapter and verses like that are in the bible too, which u must translate 1 verse from another verse to understand the meaning and the reason it was revealed.
fear ur God (the creator) u will meet Him 1 day.
@ ALHUDAHBIZ: I appreciate ur maturity in responding to d comments on d controvercial issue. The genesis of all these are som Muslim fanatics who act contrary to the Qur'an's true teaching as u claim. U have just touched d area dat stirs arguments between the two faithfuls. U can imagine If a highly placed and Respected Islamic cleric like Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi on Friday, 5th April, 2013 could sensationally assert publicly that Jesus Christ did not die on the cross and there was therefore no basis for Christians to celebrate Easter. He even went to the extent of quoting and comparing verses of the Quran and the Bible to buttress his claims. Just like u said earlier, dat som ignorantly quote parts of the scriptures needed and skip the preceeeding and following verses to know the reason and meaning of the verse of interest. Untill religious leaders or clerics stop interfering, misinforming and misguiding their followers, we shall continue to have arguments like dis and dis are likely to fuell the yet tamed monstrous 'Boko Haram' in the north. And if care is not taken, the entire Nigeria may be consumed by it.
ReplyDelete@ ALHUDAHBIZ: I appreciate ur maturity in responding to d comments on d controvercial issue. The genesis of all these are som Muslim fanatics who act contrary to the Qur'an's true teaching as u claim. U have just touched d area dat stirs arguments between the two faithfuls. U can imagine If a highly placed and Respected Islamic cleric like Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi on Friday, 5th April, 2013 could sensationally assert publicly that Jesus Christ did not die on the cross and there was therefore no basis for Christians to celebrate Easter. He even went to the extent of quoting and comparing verses of the Quran and the Bible to buttress his claims. Just like u said earlier, dat som people ignorantly quote parts of the scriptures needed and skip the preceeeding and following verses which explains the reason and meaning of the particular verse of interest. Untill religious leaders or clerics stop interfering into other religions, to avoid misinforming and misguiding their followers, we shall continue to have arguments like dis and dis are likely to fuell the yet tamed monstrous 'Boko Haram' terrors in the north. And if care is not taken, the entire Nigeria may be consumed by it. - #Voice Of Truth#
ReplyDeletelisten all of u....muslims are alike. i remember vividly well my uncle (my mum their last born) who was a muslim. He used to terrorize my mum, who was a christian, not minding the fact that my mum seniors him with more than 6 years and that they have same mother and father...whenever he comes to Edo state from kano, and sees any christian posters and framed glass pictures, he would smash them...we were catholics, so he would destroy everything...rosaries, crucifix, etc...though i was very small, i would see my mum crying bitterly... my mum won't do anyfin..for peace to reign...funny enough, our own house! He was lucky my dad died when i was barely 9... but since they (muslims) dont care so much about lives, he took his own life, by constantly smoking very heavily..,we warned him, and prayed for him, rather he would never accept the prayers...he died of cancer of the lungs, while we were rushing him to the United States for treatment...he was as at then Chairman Of UBA Bank, Kano Branch...just a young man... same muslims who dont care about lives, divided his properties among themselves and left the children to suffer and beg...allah permits begging they would say...islam is a religion of violence...40% of my family members are muslims and i knew what we faced then, from my uncles and their children...any small quarrel in our family house, they would quickly lay hold on dagger...especially the ones who grew up in the north... they treat themselves less humans, and now have extended it to others... they are the ones that fetch water, do mayguard, security, shoe shiners, and other menial jobs...then they get angry at others, whom they think is better off...but the fact is most christians are even more imporverished, but just that christians have self pride, and shame...no matter d condition, christians believe in turn arounds...christians have hopes, the muslims dont, they believe now now...whatever and however, lets take it...i have lived with them, i have seen them.. i know somebody here is going to insult me, or even wish to see me and shoot me with the arrow...that's the violence i yold you about...islam carries this spirit of annoyance....if it were mohammed that a pastor insulted like that, ah! you can imagine how they would be agitating to burn the church, but no body fights for Jesus, He's capable...so no christian asked that sheik whatever to be killed... these people make me believe, Mohammed is a dwarf or crippled!
ReplyDeleteNod doubt I have consistently argued in this column that the trouble in the north today is a product of many years of neglect by past leaders at all levels of government.
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