OPINION

Boko Haram Insurgent and Islamic Jihadists:

Why Christians Will Defend Themselves (1)

By Dr. Lewis Akpogena

“Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man, from the hand of every man's brother I will require the life of man. Whoever sheds man's blood by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man” (Gen. 9:5-6). Of all creation, man's life is most sacred to God. Willful violation of another's life calls for retribution by fellowmen – God's agents. Violence, the use of physical force, usually with intent to violate or destroy is a violation of God's perfect order.  This the Greek word translated as “Violent force” applies to the disorderly mob of Acts 21:35. But if godly people are subject to the human instability that causes violence, they also have the hope of seeking refuge in God's stability (2 Sam. 22:3).  Faith in Him can lead to a quenching of the violence of fire (Heb. 11:34).  God hates people, religion of violence and terrorism (Ps.11:5). Christianity and Christians promote peace and are peacemaker (Mt. 5:9, Rom. 12:18, 14: 19, Heb. 12:14, 1 Cor. 7:15, 2 Tim. 2:22).

But on the contrary, Islamic religion advocates violence, terrorism specifically against Christians and non-Christians.  Few citations from their scripture, the Quran suffice here. History tells us that Omar Ibn el-kharrab was the architect of the Islamic state.  He observe the following principles (A) The religion of the state is Islam. “The Prophet before dying said that no two religions may co-exist is the Arab Peninsula” (Life of the Prophet by IbuHisham 11, 813). (b) “The Arabs outside of the Arab Peninsula must continue to be jihadists, i.e.  The religious military group” (c) A number of verses in the Quran sanctions war and encourage fighting:  “O prophet! Exhort the believers to fight.  If there be of you twenty steadfast they shall overcome two hundred, and if there be of you a hundred steadfast they shall overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve” (Sura 8:65). “Fight against those who have been given the scripture and do not believe in Allah nor the last day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His Messenger, and follow not the religion of truth, so that they pay tribute readily being brought low” (Sura 9:39) “And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for discord is worse then slaughter” (Sura, 2:191) “And  fight them until discord is no more, and religion is for Allah” (Surai 2:193) “ “Think not of those who are slain in the way of Allah as dead. Nay, they are living” (Sura 3:169).  “O ye who believe fight those of the disbelievers who are near to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who keep their duty unto him” (Sura 9:123).  “They long that ye should disbelieve even as they disbelieve, that ye may be upon a level with them.  So choose not friends from them till they forsake their homes in the way of Allah; if they turn back, then take them and kill them wherever ye find them, and choose no friend nor helper from among them”  (Sura 4:89).

There are much more Suras in the Muslim Quran that made it a duty for Muslim to kill, cut off non-Muslims, Christians hands, leg and tear open pregnant women belly all in fulfillment of Islamic agenda of Islamization and going to heaven.  Muslims scholars cannot dispute that these,  jihad, suicide bombing, violence and terrorism is taught in the holy Quran and practice by Muslim faithful. So Boko Haram insurgence is not a new phenomenon rather it's Islam old ways being put to practice in Nigeria aimed at Islamizing Nigeria by force-terrorism.  Boko Haram spokes person in an interview on AIT recently confirmed this in their statement. In “Understanding Islam”, with regards to the enemies of Islam the Quran clearly indicates their fate (Sura 5:33) 'The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and his messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut officer will be expelled from the land.  Such will be their degradation in the work and in the hereafter; theirs will be an awful doom” (Sura 33).  In addition, the Quran exhorts Muslims not to take Jews or Christians for friends.  This lack of trust toward any non – Muslim is prominent throughout Quran (see Sura 5: 51; Sura3 : 118).  Not only does the Quran enforce an intolerant attitude toward non - Muslims, but it constantly exhorts the “faithful” to begin a holy war-jihad against Jews, Christians and other non - Muslims.  This kind of teaching makes it virtually impossible for muslins to interact on a trust basis with anyone who is not a member of the Muslim community. Islamic “superiority” reaches its apex in the Quran passage quoted earlier (Sura5:33) where Muslims are commanded to fight non- Muslims and anyone who rejects Allah and his apostle. Some protest that the Quran speaks well of the Jews and Christians in other passages.  This is true; however the orthodox interpretation is that the latter Quranic sections, (containing the above text) have cancelled or replaced the earlier ones.  Islam teaches that Judaism and Christianity have been completely overshadowed by Islam because Islam is the final revelation of God. Muslims are the keepers of the faith and are commanded by God, through the Quran, to take over the world and   subdue it since they are the only true followers of the true God. It follow logically therefore that they have taken up arms and declared “holy war” in certain areas of the world.  “Believers, make war on the infidels who dwell around you. Deal courteously with them now. Know that Allah is with the righteous “ (N.J. Daniel, trans the Koran, London.  Regime Books, 19956, p.333.)

Christianity teach “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, “Do not murder and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment” But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to Judgment”(Mt. 5:21-22) “You here heard that it was said ,  “Eye for eye, and do not resist an evil person.  If someone strike you at the right check, turn to him the other also.  And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.   If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him  two miles” (Mt 5.38-41).  “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.  But I tell you love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your father in heaven.  He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good” (Mt.5:43-45; also 6: 1-7:29). Matthew 5: 38-39, the principle of don't resist an evil person does not mean you should not defend yourself against the onslaught of an enemy, one, who want to kill you. Rather Matthew 5:38-42, the law of retaliation (see Ex. 21;24, Lev. 24:20 ; Deut. 19:21) was not intended to encourage  personal revenge but to protect the offender  from punishment harsher than his offense warranted.  Jesus forbids revenge by insisting upon positive good in the face of evil in terms of personal insults (V.39), legal contention (V.40), forced labour (v 41) and requests for gifts or loans (v.42).

History record and the bible also attest to this fact that Islamic religion believes and practice violence against non-Muslims as a means of expansion of their faith.  The present Boko Haram insurgence and Islamic jihadists on Christians in Northern Nigeria is premeditated and Islamic agenda. It is not just the political class who lost elections getting even with the governments.  They are using religion to advance Islamic expansion by terroristic attack.  The interview granted by Tishau, a Boko Haram Chieftain, attests to this. Tishau speaks from SSS Cell: Q: What is Boko Haram about? A: Our aim is to spread Islam all over Nigeria, that is our mission and I want people to understand that our correct name is Jama'atuAhlisSunnaLidda'awatiwal-Jihad. Those calling our group Boko Haram do so to discredit the group and it ideas. It was formed at three fundamental levels. The first level from which our group emerged was from people in this country who, for selfish reasons, recruited young people and sometimes children and sent them overseas for education. In reality, these people are totally ignorant of the reasons why these big men take them abroad. In the name of education, these young men are taken to mostly Arab countries and turned into militants who respect only those who sponsored them abroad. Those big men who sponsor these youths don't have any conscience and no love for this country.”

“It all started in 2004 when the Government of Mauritania fell. It is similar to what is happening in Libya now, though slightly different. When the government in Mauritania fell in 2004, some individuals from that country came into Nigeria to recruit some youths as mercenaries to join forces with them to overthrow the government in power. The second level of our membership is made up of young men who were recruited by our late leader, Mohammed Yusuf. Yusuf was approached by some people from Mauritania to recruit more Nigerians to continue with the struggle in Mauritania. The grounds were that this young people were being recruited to further their Islamic studies. They were to serve as a support group to the Mauritanian army. But our leader Mohammed Yusuf rejected the plan. But a number of Nigerian big men who were involved in the Mauritania struggle were angry with Yusuf. This led to a disagreement which pitched the young men loyal to Yusuf against those backing the big men. Yusuf, however, insisted on genuine Islam whereas those opposing him were mercenaries who were willing to serve their master's interest in Mauritania.”### To be Contd