Nigeria’s police chief on Thursday ordered increased 24-hour security at public buildings across the country over the Easter weekend, fearing religious violence in a country where Christians are under near-constant attack.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun Said Additional resources to keep “worship centers, train stations, highways, motor parks, airports, waterways, recreation centers, banks and other financial institutions, and other critical infrastructure and public spaces” safe, through a spokesperson. He said that it would be introduced.
“With increased deployment and increased visibility, the IGP also urges all travelers visiting their hometowns and other parts of the country for the celebrations, regardless of their mode of transport, whether by road, air, water or rail. “We assure you that adequate security will be ensured.”Patrols have been intensified in all areas, including aerial patrols and surveillance,” Egbetokun’s office said.
“As we commemorate the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, let us unite in vigilance to ensure a safe and peaceful environment for all,” the statement said.
Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) Said On Thursday, 35,000 personnel, including members of anti-vandalism units, special intelligence units, special women’s units and special forces units, were deployed to protect both Easter crowds and “critical national assets and infrastructure.” I plan to.
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) pushed return Opposes an unofficial curfew proposed for the Ifeland region to minimize the risk of violence during the Easter holidays. CAN said it had received assurances from Muslim and tribal leaders that the weekend would be peaceful.
Speaking at the inauguration of the new church last weekend, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutofan said: bring the action Aiming for peace in the Middle Belt, or central Nigeria, where Fulani Muslim nomads live. slaughtered Hundreds of Christians.
“My prayer as I have trusted God for the people of Plateau State is to trust God that all of us whom God has entrusted to the middle belt of Nigeria will come together,” Muthofan said.
International Christian Concern (ICC) listed The 2023 Persecutors of the World report lists Nigeria as the most dangerous place in the world for Christians.
The ICC noted that Christians in Nigeria face violent persecution from the Fulani tribe in the Middle Belt and ISIS-allied terrorists from Boko Haram in the north.As for the Nigerian government, 12 states in the north employ Muslims. sharia Meanwhile, the central government often turns a blind eye to the persecution of Christians.
“Government inaction on this issue is intolerable and unless the international community intervenes, the violence will only worsen,” ICC President Jeff King said at the release of the 2023 Persecution Report in November. Stated.
Despite the dire situation of religious freedom in Nigeria, the Biden administration deleted it The State Department’s removal of the country from its list of repressive countries in 2021 has sparked outrage from human rights groups and Christian leaders.
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) I have written letter In early March, he asked Secretary of State Antony Blinken why Nigeria had not been returned to the list of countries of special concern (CPC), which guarantees religious freedom, after the horrific massacre of Christians during the Christmas season.
“As you know, violence against Christians is rampant in Nigeria. Reports estimate that approximately 5,000 Nigerian Christians have been killed in religiously motivated violence in each of the past two years.” wrote Hawley in the letter, which was also signed by Sens. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Marco Rubio (R-Ind.). Florida).
“Your ministry appears to believe that these repeated violent attacks against Christians may be caused by climate change. That is absurd,” Hawley wrote.
Two Nigerian clerics, Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe and Reverend Remigius Ihyura of the Diocese of Makurdi, similarly I was furious In February, the Biden administration dismissed anti-Christian persecution as “environmental violence” due to a lack of fertile land.
“Tell me, how does climate change make people cut people to death with machetes?” asked Father Ihura. “How can you say you’re going to go and kill people in this way because you have issues with climate change and economic inequality? Massacre people and destroy everything. Does that make sense?”
Ihura said the real cause of violence against Christians in Nigeria was “Islamic Jihad” and that Islamic extremists in the region would not hesitate to admit that. He said if the issue is a scramble for resources due to climate change, Fulani Muslims are negotiating grazing and watering rights with Christian farmers, not massacring them or burning down their villages. He pointed out that he was deaf.
Bishop Anagbe asked how Nigeria’s leaders could “sit back and watch others kill us” without taking action.
“For all these years, more than 10 years, no one has been arrested, no one has been charged,” he complained.
