As the security situation continues down an alarming path, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has decided to heat the polity by alleging that there is a Christian version of the deadly terrorist group, Boko Haram.
The Muslim group made this revelation in a statement following the ‘Prayer Walk’ led by Pastor E.A Adeboye on the state of insecurity in the country, arising from the arrest of a suspected Christian suicide bomber in Kaduna State.
“This arrest is the outcome of our prayers for Allah to expose all those who are behind the bombing of churches. We are not surprised that the suspect happens to be a Christian. We have said it on several occasions that there is a Christian version of Boko Haram. Christian’s bomb churches and the whole world blame Nigerian Muslims for the atrocity.” Director of the group, Ishaq Akintola alleges.
The identity and religion of the suspected suicide bomber arrested on Sunday in Living Faith Church, situated at Sabon Tasha, Chikun Local Council of Kaduna state has kept the Kaduna State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria and the state’s Police Command at logger’s heads.
CAN Chairman, Kaduna State Branch, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, raised an alarm that the name given by the same suspect when he was arrested by the church security officials before he was handed over to the police was Mohammed Sani after the police command gave the name of the suspect as Nathaniel Tanko.
“We of the Christian faith found the disposition of the police towards the religious background of the suspect as a Christian very unfortunate. Why is the police interested in the religion of the suspect and at what point did Mohammed Sani suddenly become Nathaniel Tanko between the noon when he was arrested by the church security officials and the time handed over to the police?” Rev. Hayab asked.
The reverend added that Kaduna State had just come out of a similar scenario involving the police when “a criminal was arrested and the police quickly rushed to say he was a pastor until it was proved otherwise.”
Meanwhile, the suspected suicide bomber had during a parade by the police revealed that:
“My name is Nathaniel Samuel I am supposed to be the pastor of the living faith church because I did WOFBI (Word of Faith Bible Institute)”
When asked if there is any way by accident his name his Mohammed, he replied:
“There is no way by accident my name is Nathaniel Samuel.”
Over the years, insecurity in Nigeria has taken religious coloration even though crime has no color, race or religion. Terrorism, especially in the North East, is chaired by Boko Haram, a Muslim terrorist group that believes in the Islamization of the region and rejection of western education. The terrorist group has been known to abduct and kill Christians over their faith.
“CAN would have exploded immediately in its usual self-righteousness if Nathaniel Samuel had succeeded in bombing the church yesterday. A world press conference would have been held this morning to blame the killing on Muslims. Also, there would have been screaming headlines in newspapers across the country: Boko Haram Bombs Church Again: Hundreds Killed! White House would have called Aso Rock: Why are you killing Christians? This scenario is becoming too ridiculous. It is turning our country into a bundle of contradictions. We say enough is enough. This hypocrisy in articulated religiosity must stop” Muric revealed.
Insecurity in Kaduna
In a related development, Indigenes of Southern Kaduna, under the ambit of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), passed a vote of no confidence in the government, urging it to end the prevailing security challenges in Kaduna State.
National Publicity Secretary of SOKAPU, Luka Biniyat, said:
“We wish to bring to the attention of Nigerians and international community the unprecedented deterioration of the security situation in Kaduna State….this grim reality has continued to cast frightening uncertainties on the protection of lives and property in the state.”
The activities of terrorists and armed bandits in Kaduna state have taken a steady rise and have seen the Kaduna – Abuja road and rail become unsafe leaving airlines to ply a route of fewer than 3 hours by road, amongst other attacks.
The police command in the state advised schools, places of worship, motor parks, markets, recreational centres and other public places to revive the usual checks on vehicles and luggage, especially at entrance points.
When will we see the common enemy that is ‘insecurity’ and stop getting distracted by religious sentiments?
