The militant Islamist group, Boko Haram, has issued a chilling warning to all Christians in northern Nigeria, giving them three days to leave or face further extensive attacks.
A damaged crucifix overlooks the scene of a bomb explosion at St. Theresa Catholic Church at Madalla, Suleja, just outside Nigeria’s capital Abuja, December 25, 2011. Five bombs exploded on Christmas Day at churches in Nigeria.
The violence in Nigeria by Boko Haram has led to a stiff ultimatum by the group, which has warned that it is ready to confront soldiers sent to engage them under a state of emergency declared by Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan.
“We will confront them squarely to protect our brothers,” said Abul Qaqa, spokesperson of Boko Haram, according to CNN.
He also called for Muslims living in southern Nigeria to come back to the north, citing evidence that they could be attacked.
President Jonathan declared a state of emergency Saturday in areas of Nigeria infected with violent Islamist insurgency. He shut down borders with Cameroon, Chad and Niger in the northeast, according to Reuters. The state of emergency was announced in response to multiple violent attacks aimed at Christians in Nigeria, including a Christmas day attack that left 37 people dead and 57 wounded.
Boko Haram, which is reported to have ties with al-Qaida, has claimed responsibility for the killings. In response President Jonathan has vowed to “crush” the group, according to MSNBC. He said they began as a harmless group, but has now grown cancerous.
Shehu Sani, a human rights activist, has told CNN that Boko Haram’s threats are credible, but has warned that northern Christians have nowhere else to go after being born and raised in the area. Sani said that killings will continue and Boko Haram will simply move its violence to areas not yet affected to bypass the state of emergency.
While this story cites both CNN and MSNBC, has anyone heard any of this on the news or seen it written about anyplace else? Clearly, the “war” between Christians and Islamists has escalated all over the globe. What can be done? Acknowledge, first of all, that Islam is NOT a religion, but a political system including religious practice, but limited to that. Americans must grasp the fact that the Islamic political system mandates global take-over in its tenets. Contrary to what Ron Paul believes, these people mean us (and Israel – our ally) harm. Period! Ignoring that or sticking our heads in the sand will not change Islamist animosity toward the West. I don’t know what the solution, if there is one, might be, but it is never wise to ignore an armed foe.
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Barb,
I have quite a few blogger friends in Nigeria…I am worried about them now. Thank you for this post I will begin praying fervently for them and all christians in Nigeria and over the glob that are facing these same kinds of persecution. God Bless my friend.-watw
Yes! I,too, have missionary friends there. Praying here also!
These Muslims in Nigeria and elsewhere are not the type of people that our government negotiate with. They are dangerous people who want the world to rule under one caliphate and harm us if we do not convert to Islam. Islam is not a religion of peace.
There should be a “can” in between government and negotiate. Somehow my fingers didn’t keep up with my thoughts.
Hi Barb, I have seen this often on some Christian websites like crosswalk.com and opendoorsusa.org They are pretty current on the persecuted church. Voice of the Martyrs (persecution.com) will showcase them often too. My husband and I were actually on a missions trip to Northern Nigeria this summer. We were in all of these areas where the violence has occurred, even down to a village that we prayer-walked in. It definitely was a bit of an ominous feeling there. They need lots of prayer.
thissideofeden.wordpress.com
its really very painful to see that our christian brothers and sisters are suffering, We can just pray for them
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