Former Youths and Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung has condemned the murdered of Chairman of Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) Adamawa State Chapter, Rev. Lawan Andimi by the group of insurgents known as Boko Haram. Rev. Lawan Andimi was kidnapped by Boko Haram and was earlier demanded ransom of 2 million Euros for his release but later rejected N50 million offered from the CAN and beheaded him. While Ropvil Daciya, a Student of University of Maiduguri from Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State was also kidnapped by the same group of insurgents and was killed by the Boko Haram insurgents.
Barrister Dalung condemned the murdered of Rev. Andimi, and beheaded of bro Ropvil Daciya, describing it as barbaric, cruel, inhuman in the face of humanity and deliberately provocative. He called on government across all levels to double cross their efforts to urgently put an end to terrorism in Nigeria.
“The unfolding developments in the North East, Nigeria is worrisome and requires urgent action from the government”. The dimensions it has taken should not be ignored or merely “condemned” by government and stakeholders in the Nigerian project. It is ominous to our corporate existence as a people. Boko haram which had wrecked unprecedented havoc on the psyche of the nation over the last decade, however the strategic profiling of people of a particular ethnicity and religion for either beheading or execution sends threatening signals of the future of this federation”.
“Of course a lot has happened including the abduction of school girls in Chibok and Dapci alongside numerous abductions of helpless citizens, some have been killed while the whereabouts of many remains unknown. I have not been devastated since the abductions of Chibok girls than now, looking at the evolving trends employed by the insurgents to profile, abduct and either behead of execute fellow Nigerians in a dreaded ISIS style”.
Dalung described the strategy put in place to end the activities of insurgents as weak and no longer working. “It seems to me that we have lost the victory over the war against terrorism with the emerging horrific developments. During Christmas celebrations, 13 Christians abducted by boko haram were executed, not long thereafter, Rev Lawan Adimi, CAN Chairman abducted from Munchika LGA was beheaded, then Ropvil Dapel, student of University of Maiduguri, abducted along with three others from Plateau State was executed. There’s no doubt that the sequence of these acts cast questionable aspersions on the credibility of the defeat of the boko haram”.
“Available reports from the North East suggest that the security situation has deteriorated beyond official confirmation thereby reinforcing the concerns of people from the frontline communities. There seems to be coordinated attacks on chosen targets by the terrorists to provoke national chaos and confusion. We must not fall into this evil plan by merely condemning or dismissing it as usual, rather government must immediately respond with concrete security measures to reclaim the dwindling confidence of fellow Nigerians”.
“The profiling of Christians and Plateau people is a deliberate ploy by terrorists to escalate their nefarious activities employing divide and conquer tactics. They may profess a religion but we should not fall prey to their antics as they do not have the mandate of the religion to perpetuate these atrocities. And in any case, there’s no known religion that tolerates killing of innocent lives. Christianity frowns at the shedding of innocent blood with a categorical injunction “thou shall not kill”, I believe that Islam is against taking of life of the innocent.”
Therefore, I urge us to understand the trap set by evil to destroy our harmony. I am personally devastated by this unwholesome situation but we cannot compromise our sense of reasoning to the dictates of evil.
The Ex-Minister called on religious leaders to cooperate with security agencies in order to bring an end to Boko Haram. “I called on all religious leaders to exercise restraint by providing good guidance to the people who have been panicked by these horrific events. I employed Islamic leaders to show love to the Christian community by restating their commitments to peace and distancing Islam from terrorism. It will enhance bond of solidarity if they also exchange visits to each other. It is time to practically conquered hate with love. We must act now before we all are consumed by evil.”
“Even though it’s a trying moment for the country, we must redouble our efforts to forge a strong front to deal with these dangerous trends. It took a coalition of different countries of the world to defeat ISIS caliphate, but there are still over ten thousand ISIS fighters spread all over the Middle East. It is also reported that the Sahel Magreb is a likely budding ground for terrorists regrouping, so these may be some of the symptoms of we may be dealing with. “
“The Nigerian government as a matter of urgency must overhaul the current security strategy which has failed to deliver the expected dividends. The days of living in denial is running out and we must admit that the security situation demands a pragmatic approach.”
May the spirit of the victims these dastardly act continue to hunt their killers and may God admit them into paradise amen.
MiddleBelt Reporters 