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Ticket Racketeering: EFCC Receives Officials of NRC

Crime

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January 23, 2020

Ticket Racketeering: EFCC Receives Officials of NRC

The EFCC, Kaduna Zonal Office, today Wednesday, January 22, 2020 played host to officials of the Nigeria Railway Cooperation team on a fact finding mission on the issue of ticket racketeering at Rigasa Train Station.

The team which was led by James G. Zang, said they are in the Zonal office to find the effort so far made by the Commission on ticket racketeering.

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Zang who commended the EFCC for helping in bringing sanity in the process of selling tickets to the general public while discouraging racketeers in the train stations, further stated that those perpetrating the crimes are not Nigeria Railway Staff and that the NRC is working vigorously towards making the e-ticketing platform a reality within the shortest possible time which will completely eradicate racketeering of tickets.

Boko Haram: European Union appraises Nigerian government, military’s counter-insurgency operations as commendable

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January 23, 2020

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Boko Haram: European Union appraises Nigerian government, military’s counter-insurgency operations as commendable

The European Union Centre for Human Rights Protection (EUCHRP) has commended the Nigerian government and military for making significant progress in its counter-insurgency operations.

The Centre made this known in an extensive report on the “ threats posed by Boko Haram/ISWAP, the response of the Nigerian State and plight of civilians”.

In the report signed by Executive Director, Stuart McGhie and released on Tuesday, the Luxembourg-based centre appraised President Muhammadu Buhari for ensuring Nigerians and Nigeria is safe from enemies within and beyond its borders.

The team of highly-skilled researchers took into account the origin of the Boko Haram/ISWAP sect, previous government’s efforts and how the current administration and military leadership led by Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai has turned the tide positively.

Among others, the group highlighted transparency in defence procurement; human right and obedience to rule of engagement; procurement of modern equipment as well as regional cooperation as the catalyst.

Notwithstanding these obvious gains, the European Union Centre for Human Rights Protection, however, urged the Nigerian government and military not to rest on its laurels.

Read full report below:

Introduction

The emergence of the Boko Haram sect could be traced to the activities of Mohammed Yusuf, who called for the reinstitution of sharia governing Muslim Empires, which existed long before the British Empire subdued it. He argued that the colonial administration had turned the area to anti- Islam, breeding amongst the people an un-Islamic lifestyle. He was quoted in a BBC interview saying that “There are prominent Islamic preachers who have seen and understood that the present Western-style education is mixed with issues that run contrary to our beliefs in Islam…” Hence the name “Boko Haram” used by media, Government, and the general public to refer to the group who took up a more radical approach at the death of its founding leader, Mohammed Yusuf, who died in prison in 2009.

The Boko Haram Sect, since then under Abubakar Shekau’s leadership, has evolved from fringe religious movement into one of the most lethal terrorist organizations in the world. The group has been linked and has claimed several terrorist attacks against the Nigerian state, and most back-breaking was the kidnap of over 200 girls (Chibok) from a boarding school on 14th April 2014 with President Goodluck Jonathan at the helm of governance.

The inability of the Government of the day to successfully persecute a counter-insurgency war against the sect highlighted the failures of the Jonathan government on the military front. More “high profile” attacks were carried out by the sect; several civilians and military personals were killed, civilians displaced, Chibok girls unreached, lots of monies spent, and many more stolen.

This was the security situation the Nigerian military faced before the election of Muhammadu Buhari as President in 2015. Since the advent of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, it could be argued that the Security situation in Nigeria had significantly improved, and the Nigerian military has successfully launched several military campaigns against the Boko Haram group.

Nigerian Government Response against Boko Haram

Available statistics indicate that Boko Haram was able to exert its authority and control over some areas of northeast Nigeria. They made Camp Zero in Sambisa forest a reliable defense, training, and command center for their operations. The importance of dislodging the terror group from their Sambisa hideout could not have been overemphasized. It was indeed a significant victory for the Nigerian military authorities, which struck a heavy blow on the capability of the sect.

Dislodging Boko Haram from the Sambisa forest was not a question of “should” but a question of “how” for the Nigerian military who faced a daunting task of wrestling the forest from terrorist control.

The policy and administrative arms of the military had been accused of being detached from the reality of soldiers on the frontline. Complaints from troops about inadequate supplies of equipment and poor welfare was nullified by the relocation of the military command center to Maiduguri aimed at centralizing operations close to the action, cut the bureaucracy and speed up decision-making.

These initiatives paid off evidenced in the fact that Boko Haram was not only dislodged from the Sambisa forest but were also continually retreated into neighboring countries. Since the launch of Operation Lafia Dole, Boko Haram’s capacity to attack territories outside Borno state has been limited. This is a great gain against a lethal and highly sophisticated group whose activities extended to the capital city of Abuja.

The Highlights of the War against Terrorism in Nigeria (2015-date)

Transparency in Defence Procurement

To enhance transparency, the Nigerian military has since brought corrupt officers and officials to book and also recovered looted security funds. Due to the irregularities that took place in the defence spending, the National Security Adviser instituted a committee to investigate weapon procurement since 2007 to check irregularities that lead to the purchasing of sub-standard and unserviceable equipment.

The superior firepower of troops, especially those provided by the Nigeria military, has paid off significantly on the battlefield. A large number of terrorists have since been captured, some killed, and others have fled their hideouts. In a bid to strengthen trust and transparency in executing the war against terrorism between the military and the general public, the command center of Operation Lafiya Dole conducts media briefing on the progress and setbacks of the operation.

Regional Cooperation

Before the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s President, the Multi-National Joint Task Force established in 1998 was a weak regional security set up that could not live up to its billings highlighted by the pull out of Chad and Niger in 2013 and 2014 (peak years of Boko Haram terrorism) and the overrunning of the MNJTF headquarters near Baga (Nigeria) by Boko Haram terrorist which was a massive blow on the regional security set up.

However, the regional cooperation was reviewed and revived in mid-2015 with headquarters at N’Djamena commanded by a Nigerian General through the diplomatic prowess of the President Muhammadu Buhari which permitted the execution of joint operations, planning, intelligence sharing and the temporal permission of Nigerien and Chadian troops to intervene in Nigerian territory in the Lake Chad area.

Procurement of Modern Equipment

The Nigerian Government responded to the activities of Boko Haram by procuring modern equipment for the execution of the war against the sect. The procurement of modern equipment and weaponry lifted troop morale and, as such, impacted on the military gains against the sect. The Government also solicited and continues to solicit for international assistance in this regard.

In December 2016, the German Ministry of the defence supplied the Nigerian military with modern mobile medical units, several metal detectors, and counter-improvised Explosive Device and Explosive Ordinance Disposal. In the same year, during the African Union, Summit, Britain had committed 860 million Euros in foreign aid to Nigeria to boast her efforts against Boko Haram. Most of these donations have been judiciously spent on arms procurement, which has lifted troop morale. The Nigerian military, since the commencement of new procurement policy, got rid of sub-standard weapons and bad equipment.

Human Right and Obedience to Rule of Engagement

It is important to note that the Nigerian military instituted measures that check excessive human rights abuse as may be committed by the armed forces in the course of its military engagement with Boko Haram in the North East. By October 2015, the Nigerian military had begun to investigate cases of indiscipline by soldiers, including human rights abuses, and also announced the creation of a human rights desk to handle complaints from members of the public.

In August 2017, a presidential investigation Panel on Review of Compliance of Armed Forces with Human Rights Obligations and Rules of Engagement was instituted to “investigate, prosecute and punish all crimes under international law and other serious violations of human rights law, whether committed by Boko Haram, Nigerian military or the civilian joint task force.”

To ensure effective control of arbitrariness and lawlessness by military personnel, deliberate, unambiguous rules or directives that define the circumstances, conditions, degree and manner in which the use of force or actions which might be construed as provocative may be applied, are given out by competent authority to every soldier on internal security operation.

These rules are consistent, account for a variety of potential scenarios and the political and military aspects of a given situation. Such awareness and the penchant for the respect for human rights by the military leadership ensures that at all times, troops are aware of these rules before they are launched into the operational arena, and any violation is met with a severe penalty. By so doing, a lot of human rights abuses are being checkmated.

Conclusion

Security is a vital part of socio-economic development in Nigeria, that is why the Nigerian Government deploys every ounce of capability within her reach to protect her own, whether it is her territory, people, sovereignty or resources from potential and actual threats from fellow states, non-state and stateless actors such Boko Haram. The above report has shown that the Nigerian Government has made significant progress security-wise in the past decade, especially against insurgency activities in the North East region. It is on this note that this report recommends that the Nigerian Government should not rest on her laurels but continue to defend her citizens and territory from enemies within and beyond its borders.

Community policing remains the best security solution – IGP

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January 23, 2020

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Community policing remains the best security solution – IGP

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, has explained that community policing remains the best strategy in finding lasting solution to the security challenges across the country.

This is coming as the governors of the North-central states have resolved to revive the G-7 formed in 2007 to tackle insecurity in the region

Mohammed stated this yesterday in Lafia, Nasarawa State capital, at the North Central Security Summit he organised for North Central region with the theme “Strategic partnership for effective community policing in the North Central zone/FCT.”

He said so far, the implementation of the outcome of the various summits have resulted in unprecedented success and a significant decline in the rate of crime.

“The federal government is convinced that for internal security to be strengthened, the participation of the people at the community level is very important.

“Almost in all the cases, experience of anarchy , lawlessness , agitations , terrorism , banditry , kidnapping, among others occur at the community levels.

“Therefore, mobilising for the participation of the citizens in securing their communities especially at the local level is key strategy that the government is determined to employ in its efforts to provide total security for the citizens.

“It is in this context the federal government has approved the adoption of community policing approach as the strategy for policing Nigeria and guarantee internal security,” he said.

Boko Haram/ISWAP’s murder of preacher won’t break our trust in God, Buhari – Christian group

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January 23, 2020

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Boko Haram/ISWAP’s murder of preacher won’t break our trust in God, Buhari – Christian group

Despite the gruesome murder of Adamawa-based preacher, Rev Lawan Andimi, by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, the Northern Christian Forum of Nigeria (NCFN) has vowed to hold on to its faith and support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The Christian group made this known at a press conference on Thursday condemning the wicked act which it described as “unfortunate and barbaric”.

In a statement signed by President, Rev. Elijah Bitrus, NCFN revealed that the plan was to weaken their faith to discourage the evangelism and rapid spread of the gospel across the length and breadth of the country.

Instead, however, this episode has enhanced their belief and uncompromising support for the president, according to Rev. Bitrus.

The group hailed President Buhari’s effort in the fight against terrorism and corruption which sponsors and collaborators of the Boko Haram terrorists aren’t pleased with.

NCFN, therefore, called on Nigerians to continue to cooperate and give full support to the government in the bid to rid of these elements that are hell bent on trying to instigate Nigerians against one another.

Read full statement below:

The Northern Christian Forum of Nigeria (NCFN) has received with shock the unfortunate and barbaric murder of the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in Michika Local Government of Adamawa State by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.

This comes as a surprise even more painful given that the Reverend Gentleman was killed after his abductors raised hope that he was going to be released after the payment of ransom.

But as it turned out, they were obviously looking for excuses to commit their heinous act hence demanded for a ransom they thought would be impossible to raise within the given time frame, but when the church rose in unison and almost tripled the amount, the terrorists, seeing that their thirst for blood would not be satiated if they release the CAN Chairman, rejected the N50 million offered and executed the Reverend Gentleman in cold blood.

This is not just an act of wickedness but a calculated campaign to frighten the faithful in their quest to get close to their maker. But we are only made stronger and more United in our resolve to love God the more.

The NCFN has reasons to believe that there is a plan to weaken the faithful by such acts of brutality in order to discourage the evangelism and rapid spread of the gospel across the length and breadth of the country. Furthermore that more brethren have continued to accept the teachings of our lord and saviour in the most interior parts of the north-east to the glory of God.

We will like to send a strong message out there to the terrorists and their sponsors that no matter how hard they might try, that our faith in God cannot be shaken and as long as the lord tarries we will not be deterred from either practicing our faith or winning souls for the kingdom.

As Christians, we draw inspiration from the scripture and especially the book of Job where the man of God triumphed over every form of physical pain and torture due to his abiding faith in the almighty.

Let it be known to the terrorists and their sponsors that our eyes are already focused on the mark hence we cannot be discouraged or distracted by such acts of cowardice that manifest in the killing of the body.

What we see is beyond here hence we cannot be tossed by every swaying of the wind.

We are also aware that the current administration is doing all it can to put an end to these acts of terrorism and that these actions are also targeted at poisoning the minds of Christians into believing that they are not secured under the current administration.

Many are angry at the President because of his fight against corruption which we have had reasons to support in order to restore back the glory of our country. President Buhari is the choice of God and no man born of woman can undo what God has decreed.

We therefore call on all to cooperate and give full support to the government in the bid to rid this country of these elements that are hell bent on trying to instigate Nigerians against one another based on religion. We shall forever remain one in the body of Christ and nothing shall discourage us.

Thank you and may all the departed souls rest in peace. Amen.

Rwandans confident about their future – Kagame

Africa

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January 23, 2020

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Rwandans confident about their future – Kagame

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has expressed confidence that Rwandans are increasingly self-assured about their lives and the country’s future.

The head of state spoke at the International School for Government at King’s College in London at the start of a session on Rwanda’s transformation with former Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer.

“Well-being has both subjective and objective elements. Rwanda’s progress on human development indicators, such as income growth, healthcare, gender equality, and education, is matched by independent surveys that ask Rwandans how they feel about the country’s future,” Kagame said.

Kagame attributed three principles as being crucial to the success of Rwanda: urgency, unity and self-reliance. He added that the most important part was for Rwandans to be part of the process ensuring that they benefit from public policy.

“The only way to survive was to make peace with ourselves. And the only way to prosper as a landlocked country was to invest in our people and cooperate economically with our region.”

Rwanda experienced a deadly genocide in 1994 that killed more than one million people – mainly Tutsis and some moderate Hutus – over the course of 100 days by the majority Hutu population.

The country has since emerged from the ruins and made great strides to become a beacon for African countries.

The capital, Kigali, is regarded as one of the cleanest and most livable cities in Africa. Rwanda adopted a law against plastic bags in 2008 and, in 2019, became the first East African country to completely ban all single-use plastics.

Rwanda was named the world’s top reformer in the World Bank’s Doing Business Report 2010. Its economy, largely dependent on agriculture, tourism and mining, is expected to grow by 8 percent in 2020 and 2021, according to the IMF.

The country has signed two sponsorship and tourism promotion deals with high-profile European football clubs Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain to boost the tourism sector, which is its biggest foreign exchange earner.

It has also positioned itself as a conference and sporting hub with Kigali set to host a number of events this year, including the Africa Tourism Leadership Forum, Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and the NBA-backed Basketball Africa League final.

Amotekun: Bola Tinubu shares his thoughts

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January 22, 2020

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Amotekun: Bola Tinubu shares his thoughts

National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has called for private discussion between the governors of the South-West and the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, over Amotekun, a security outfit launched by governors in the region.

Tinubu said the foundation of the country has not been put at risk with the security outfit launched by the governors of the zone in a bit to confront the insecurity in their states.

The former Lagos governor, however, warned that the nation’s fabric could be torn by what he called the “dangerous rhetoric of those who should know better.”

In his first intervention in the controversy surrounding Amotekun, Tinubu said in a statement on Wednesday: “Those claiming that this limited, inoffensive addition to security threatens the Republic have taken themselves upon a madcap excursion.

“Those claiming that the Federal Government seeks to terribly suppress the Southwest have also lost their compass. Those who occupy these two extremes have sunken into the dark recesses of fear and political paranoia that can undo a nation if such sentiments are allowed to gestate.”

The statement continues: “Amotekun. This issue has dominated recent discourse and media headlines. Distilled to its basics, it concerns how best state governments can assist with the safety and security of their residents. This is a matter of serious concern entitled to sober thought. However, it has been turned into a political tug-of-war. Fierce, often unthinking rhetoric, for and against, has crossed the lips of too many Nigerians. More subjective talking than objective thinking has been the fuel of this outburst.

“Question those in favour of Amotekun. Most have but the vaguest notion about it. They know few details yet vigorously attribute to its opponents the most negative intentions. Ask those who oppose Amotekun. They are equally ignorant of its provisions. They oppose the initiative not on its merits but merely because it was proposed by their political opponents or because they don’t see an avenue for personal gain from it.

“While colourful, the rhetoric has been disconcerting. How people have mishandled this matter demonstrates that we still have far to go in perfecting this democracy. Too much energy has been spent distorting this issue instead of seeking a resolution that supports local enhancement of security while keeping the constitution intact. If this becomes the standard for how we handle disagreements then we will obscure Nigeria’s path forward with our own rubbish.

“In this matter, I do not see malign intent in the differences of opinion between the SW Governors as authors of Amotekun and the Attorney-General as the primary law enforcement officer of the Federal Government. Shorn of the overly dramatic language, what lies before us is but a step in the evolution of our federalism. This is an opportunity to more clearly define that federalism; but one cannot attain this better, more functional definition through overblown, emotional language. Objectivity and calmness are required. To a significant degree, the enduring quality of our republic will be established by the sagacity with which we handle disagreements regarding the division of power between federal and state governments. Such disagreements are inevitable. This is not the first. Nor will it be the last. We must devote our energies more toward solving problems rather than amplifying them.

“Seeking to fulfil their mandates by helping protect their people, the governors of the Southwest collectively established a program to buttress existing security mechanisms. Seeking to protect the constitution as best he could, the Attorney-General offered his opinion on what he believed the governors have sought to do. No one can blame either party for seeking to fulfil what they genuinely see as their public duty.

“Until now, I have deliberately maintained a studied silence regarding Amotekun. Many have tried to goad my swift public reaction. Those who have taken this road did so not because they care about Amotekun or even the people it intends to help protect. They did so knowing this had become a delicate and emotional issue for many. These cynics did so with the adversarial hope that, in haste, I might misspeak or misstep in a manner they could twist to their political advantage.

“Such people are possessed of a mercenary aspect that permits them to sacrifice almost anything, even jeopardize the very foundations of our political unity, if they might exact personal gain from the upheaval. In that they know no nobler purpose than their own appetites, we should feel sorry for them. However, we must not allow our sympathies for their barren condition to persuade us that there is worth in their destructive misconduct. They must be left to the consequences of their own devices.

“If truly I am a political leader as I am often described, then I have not the luxury of hasty, ill-conceived utterances. There are those who will use inflamed words to spark the passions of others. This may bring transient applause. But when the cheers fade, we shall only have further descended because their words were never inclined toward resolution and long-term improvement but toward short-term popularity and perpetual confrontation.

“I believe in this nation and its benign prospects. I dearly love its people, all of them. Over the years of our existence, they have suffered much. Yet they still hold forth with heroic patience and an extraordinary optimism born of strong faith. To these people, I owe my best. I shall not treat them cheaply or bandy their emotions like some errant football. The welfare of these good and decent people is my overriding concern.

“Equally, I do not cow to the demands of those who press for me to make a premature statement on an important issue. Again, that is a game devised by those who care more about political cleverness than the quality of governance. I chose to talk when my position has been made ripe by a collection of the facts and a reasonable assessment of those facts.”

Trump plans to include Nigeria on travel ban list

World

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January 22, 2020

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Trump plans to include Nigeria on travel ban list

The Trump administration is planning to add Nigeria and six other countries – Belarus, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Sudan and Tanzania – to its travel ban list.

Daily Mail reports that US media said on Tuesday that US President Donald Trump was considering adding countries to the travel ban.

The list of countries to be added is not yet decided as it is believed some countries will face bans only on some visa categories.

The move will likely sour relations between Nigeria and the US despite being anti-terrorism partners, with a large base of diaspora residing in the US.

A senior Trump administration official was quoted saying that countries that failed to comply with security requirements, including biometrics, information-sharing and counter-terrorism measures, faced the risk of limitations on US immigration.

Under the current version of the ban, Citizens of Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, and some Venezuelan officials and their relatives are blocked from obtaining a large range of US immigrant and non-immigrant visas.

The news platform said The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to request for comment. Also, the State Department declined to comment.

MURIC condemns killing of CAN Chairman, Andimi

Crime
News

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January 22, 2020

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MURIC condemns killing of CAN Chairman, Andimi

An Islamic group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the murder of Lawan Andimi, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Michika local government area of Adamawa, describing it as horrendous, ungodly and barbaric.

The MURIC director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, in a statement issued and signed in Lagos on Wednesday, said that anyone who kills innocent people does not represent Islam.

“We are at a loss for words. This killing is horrendous, ungodly and barbaric.

“We condemn it in the strongest terms possible. We reiterate our earlier declaration that Boko Haram is not an Islamic group, rather it is a group of misled zealots.

“Any group that kills at will and sheds the blood of innocent people cannot represent Islam,” he said.

“We call on all Nigerians regardless of religious background to unite against Boko Haram. We must stand up together to fight the evil in our midst,” he said.

CALSER mourns pastor killed by Boko Haram/ISWAP, calls for unity of faith against terrorist ideology

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January 22, 2020

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CALSER mourns pastor killed by Boko Haram/ISWAP, calls for unity of faith against terrorist ideology

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights (CALSER) has condemned the murder of Adamawa-based preacher, Lawan Andimi by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.

In a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, CALSER President, Princess Ajibola believes the killing of the Christian cleric shows the radical sect’s desperation to provoke sectarian strife that could ultimately birth crisis.

According to the Centre, Boko Haram/ISWAP ideology has nothing to do with religion but rather sheer wickedness and evil against humanity.

CALSER, therefore, called on Nigerians to unite irrespective of religious and ethnic divide to put an end to the terrorist’s devilish ideology.

While tasking the Federal Government, through the various security agencies, to identify the perpetrators, CALSER further urged the international community to quit the silence and condemn the activities of the terrorist group.

Read full address below:

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights (CALSER) condemns in the strongest terms the murder of Lawan Andimi, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Michika local government area of Adamawa state by terrorists. We mourn the death of Pastor Andimi not just because of the tragic connections but because of the danger his murder poses to long term stability of Nigeria.

The murder of the Christian clergy further confirms our fears that Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) are desperate to provoke sectarian strife that could see Nigerians attacking and counter-attacking each other if they fall for the terrorists’ strategy of deepening religious divides.

CALSER therefore reminds Nigerians that Boko Haram/ISWAP ideology has nothing to do with religion but rather sheer wickedness and evil against humanity. Rather than being people that want to forcefully impose their religion on the rest of us, these terrorists are nothing but a bunch of criminals, psychopaths and sociopaths who hide their perversion behind religious claims.

The killing of Pastor Andimi calls for sober reflection but even more is the need to have the appropriate responses from the various stakeholders. At the top of the hierarchy is the urgent need for unity of purpose by all men of goodwill, who must to come together irrespective of religious or ethnic affiliation to defeat the evil called Boko Haram/ISWAP.

The clergy across all persuasions must condemn the dastardly murder while urging their followers to resist the temptation of taking steps that could create new problems for the country. Islamic clerics have the particularly arduous task of addressing conditions that make it possible for the terrorists to pervert religious teachings for brainwashing, recruiting, radicalizing and manipulating their members into disregarding the sanctity of human life.

We call on the Federal Government, through the various security agencies, to particularly identify the terrorists involved in the pastor’s murder and promptly take justice to them to serve as a deterrence and a reminder that such reckless act of terrorism is not permissible irrespective of what international support Boko Haram and ISWAP enjoy. Nigerians and their military must not give up on reducing Boko Haram/ISWAP to ashes anywhere in the country and beyond.

Whilst the international community continues to maintain the very shameful silence over the atrocities committed by Boko Haram/ISWAP in Nigeria’s north east, and while a section of the international media circuit continues to promote falsehood against the Nigerian military despite their sacrifices for the security of all citizens, we believe that the murder of Pastor Andimi should be a watershed and an opportunity for them to recalibrate and renounce all forms of support for the terrorists, implied, covert or overt.

The world and its police body should not stop at just condemning the murder but must move further by taking practical steps that help countries affected by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorism to bring the criminals and their sponsors to book.

Boko Haram/ISWAP: Inter-faith group calls for one day nationwide prayers against killers of Adamawa Pastor

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January 22, 2020

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Boko Haram/ISWAP: Inter-faith group calls for one day nationwide prayers against killers of Adamawa Pastor

Following the gruesome murder of an Adamawa-based pastor, the National Inter-Faith and Religious Organization for Peace (NIFROP) has called on Nigerians to embark on a one-day intensive prayer and fast against his killers.

Rev. Lawan Andimi was Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State before his abduction and abrupt death.

In an emotional statement signed by Grand Patron on Tuesday, Archbishop Julius Ediwe, NIFROP sobbed over the demise considering all efforts put into securing his release from Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group.

Bishop Ediwe described the slain pastor as a “man of God that preached the gospel of peace and unity in his area of jurisdiction” and “lived a life worthy of emulation in his actions and inactions in the propagation of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ”.

However, inter-faith group believes his murder is “ one too many” and something urgent needs to be done by Nigerians irrespective of faith.

Hence, NIFROP called for a one-day prayer and fasting by people of all faith across the country to bring the wrath of God upon the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist and their collaborators that do not want peace and progress in Nigeria.

The group reckoned that Nigerians need to seek the wrath of God to “ fall heavily on all those responsible for the death of Rev Andimi”, from the radical sect to its financiers and collaborators.

Read full statement below:

The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organization for Peace (NIFROP) are indeed saddened by the unfortunate killing of the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Rev. Lawan Andimi.

The news came as a rude shock to NIFROP despite all the efforts that were put into securing his release from the hands of the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group since his abduction for no justifiable cause other than the fact that he is a servant of the Lord’s vineyard.

Rev. Lawan Andimi was a man of God that preached the gospel of peace and unity in his area of jurisdiction and his capacity as the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa state. This death is indeed one too many for all lovers of peace in Nigeria regardless of our ethnic and religious affiliations.

The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organizations for Peace (NIFROP) is consoled with the fact that Rev. Lawan Andimi lived a life worthy of emulation in his actions and inactions in the propagation of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Every Servant of God, whomever he may be and however important his work, must eventually rest from his labors. Even Prophet Elijah came to the end of his earthly span of service. There were very few witnesses on the earth in those days; good men were scarce, yet Prophet Elijah had to go! We are apt only to look at the earthly service of believers and to forget that our earthly ministry is only a preparation for our service in the ages to come.

In the Book of Psalms 105: 15, the Holy Bible expressly stated thus: “Do not touch My anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.” The killing of Rev. Lawan Andimi by the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group is indeed against this biblical injunction, and there shall be consequences.

According to the Book of Romans 1:18, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”

As an organization under the mantle of God, we pray that the wrath of God shall fall heavily on all those responsible for the death of Rev. Lawan Andimi in unquantifiable measures. All those that have conspired directly or indirectly to the death of the servant of God shall be visited with the wrath of God. This includes the financiers, local, and international promoters of the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist groups.

The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organizations for Peace have indeed placed a curse that they shall indeed know no peace from this day onwards till the day of their destruction.

The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organizations for Peace consequently call for a one-day prayer and fasting by people of all faith across the country to bring the wrath of God upon the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist and their collaborators that do not want peace and progress in Nigeria.

In all of these, we give thanks to God almighty, as stated in the book of 1 Corinthians 15:57. “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”