THE P
RTAL
Aid to the Church in Need
October 2016 Page 20
Islamist attacks take new form in Nigeria
Murcadha O ’ Flaherty at Aid to the Church in Need
Christians have suffered growing attacks by Muslim Fulani herdsmen who have tried to seize their lands in the eastern “ Middle Belt ” of Nigeria – this was the message Bishop Charles Hammawa of
Jalingo , Nigeria gave to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need .
While there have been fewer attacks by Boko Haram - whose name means ‘ western education is forbidden ’ - the bishop suspects that “ jihad is taking a new course ”. The recent escalation in violence is due to the Fulani seeking to populate Christian areas with Muslim herdsmen and backing up their possession of Christian farmers ’ lands by use of force .
Although the extreme violence of Boko Haram has declined , this has been contrasted against a surge in numbers designed to populate this area with Muslims . For the last three years there has been an attempt to influence political decision-making in the region by increasing the number of Muslims .
Bishop Hammawa has expressed suspicions of the herdsmen ’ s access to arms , adding that he believes that Fulani aggression has outside financial support . He noted that this aggression has “ left numerous dead , destroyed many communities and displaced thousands of people .”
The bishop has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to strongly condemn these human rights breaches . He requested the president make “ firm statements ” but also “ take concrete action in combating Islamic extremism .” The bishop observed that :
[ The president ] is very cautious and a little bit slow in condemning the Fulani crisis … My worry is that — although Boko Haram members have been killed or are awaiting trial — the organisation is lying low , with members hiding out in various places . Violence could readily flare up again .
Bishop Hammawa has suggested that meaningful dialogue is the solution to Islamist extremism and expose Boko Haram ’ s hypocrisy :
… many of the rank-and-file of Boko Haram had been neglected by the Muslim elite in the north for
a long time . These youth and adults have not been properly educated , because Western education has been rejected ; they have been living in the margins of the society , with only a fundamentalist Islamic formation . They are filled with anger and they have nothing to lose . Meanwhile , the Muslim elite send their children to be educated abroad !
The bishop stated that different communities seek new followers by different approaches : Christianity uses preaching to persuade , however Islam , “ can be the case of a kind of coercion ”.
The fear of persecution is also forcing Christians to compromise or hide in faith . Bishop Hammawa remains adamant that those who remain steadfast in their Christian faith deserve our utmost support – this challenge is aggravated by bribery and “ rampant corruption across Nigeria .” Despite the ongoing fear of persecution in the Christian community across northern Nigeria , the bishop emphasised the need for :
[ Priests to ] avoid inflaming hostilities ; we preach peace and reconciliation ; we urge Christian farmers not to retaliate — at most , we encourage them to defend themselves ; but we cannot tell them to go and fight — that would violate the spirit of the Gospel .
Thanks to ACN benefactors last month , the charity made a record £ 1.2 million payment supporting 147 projects , including a project in the bishop ’ s diocese of Jalingo , where ACN provided more than £ 65,000 towards the renovation and reconstruction of staff quarters , students ’ dormitories and the multi-purpose hall for the St Robert Bellarmine ’ s Institute for Catechists and Religious Education , Jimlari .
Original interview by Joop Koopman
How you can help Aid to the Church in Need ? visit http :// www . acnuk . org - email : acn @ acnuk . org or call 020 8642 8668