BAUCHI, Nigeria (Reuters) - More than 50 Nigerians were killed on Sunday in clashes between security forces and militants in the northeastern city of Bauchi, residents and hospital sources said.
The fighting began early on Sunday when around 70 militants armed with guns and explosives attacked a local police station in retaliation for the arrest of their leaders.
Police and soldiers repelled the attack and then raided neighborhoods to arrest those responsible. Hospital sources and residents said more than 50 people were killed in the fighting.
A Reuters reporter counted 32 bodies at two Bauchi police stations and said dozens were wounded among the more than 200 arrested. The official government death toll is 39, including one soldier.
"We have pre-empted the militants. Otherwise the situation would have been bad," Bauchi state Governor Isa Yuguda told reporters.
"I'm calling on all the people of Bauchi to be calm and be rest assured the situation has been brought under control," he added.
The governor imposed a night time curfew in Bauchi for the next few days to calm tensions. There was an increased police presence in some neighborhoods, but businesses remained open and people were milling the streets freely before the curfew.
ISLAMIC GROUP
Police spokesman Mohammed Barau said the militants belonged to Boko Haram, a local group that wants sharia (Islamic law) to be imposed on all of Nigeria.
A member of Boko Haram who was wounded during the initial attack on the police station told Reuters his group wanted to "clean the (Nigerian) system which is polluted by western education and uphold sharia all over the country."
"The police has been arresting our leaders that is why we decided to retaliate," said the man, who gave his name only as Abdullah.
The Islamic group is not connected to the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Nigeria's most prominent rebel group responsible for a campaign of violence that has devastated Africa's biggest energy sector since early 2006.
Bauchi is one of 12 states in the predominately Muslim north that started a stricter enforcement of sharia in 2000 -- a decision that has alienated sizable Christian minorities and sparked bouts of sectarian violence that killed thousands.
Nigeria is roughly equally split between Christians and Muslims, although traditional animist beliefs underpin many people's faith.
More than 200 ethnic groups generally live peacefully side by side in the West African country, although civil war left one million people dead between 1967 and 1970 and there have been bouts of religious unrest since then.
Last November, hundreds were killed in two days of clashes in the central city of Jos after a disputed election triggered the worst fighting between Muslim and Christian gangs in years in Africa's most populous country.
(Writing by Randy Fabi; editing by Elizabeth Fullerton)
The Nigerian authorities have stepped up security across the north of the country, following two days of violence in which at least 100 people have died.
Soldiers have set up road blocks and imposed dusk-to-dawn curfews in the worst affected areas of Yobe, Kano and Borno States.
Islamist militants staged attacks on police and government offices.
There have been reports of youths armed with machetes and guns killing police officers and civilians at random.
Nigeria's military and police have been ordered to use all means necessary to contain the violence, the BBC's Caroline Duffield in Lagos reports.
Gun battlesEyewitnesses told the BBC that police stations had been attacked and civilians pulled from their cars and shot dead.
In the town worst affected by the violence, Maiduguri in Borno State, bodies of residents and militants have been piled outside the police station and in the streets.
A BBC reporter there counted 100 corpses.
Some of the militants are believed to be supporters of a preacher based in Maiduguri, Mohammed Yusuf, who says Western education is against Islamic teaching.
Nigeria's police are understood to be searching for him.
Late on Monday night there were still reports of shooting in Maiduguri.
Earlier, witnesses told the BBC that a battle had raged for hours in Potiskum, Yobe State, where a police station and neighbouring buildings were reportedly razed.
There was also attacks on police in Wudil, some 20km (12 miles) from Kano, the largest city in northern Nigeria.
Security is said to have been particularly beefed up in Plateau State, to the south of Bauchi, where hundreds were killed in clashes between Muslims and Christians last year.
Mr Yusuf's followers are known as Boko Haram, which means "Education is prohibited".
Youths began attacking police stations on Sunday after some of the group's leaders were arrested.
Correspondents say Boko Haram has aroused suspicion for its recruitment of young men, and its belief that Western education, culture and science are sinful.
Reuters news agency reports that one of the group's leaders, arrested in Kano state, said his followers were standing up for their faith.
"Even if I'm arrested, there are more to do the job," Abdulmuni Ibrahim Mohammed is quoted as saying.
Sharia law is in place across northern Nigeria, but there is no history of al-Qaeda-linked violence in the country.
The country's 150 million people are split almost equally between Muslims and Christians and the two groups generally live peacefully side by side, despite occasional outbreaks of communal violence.
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The Nigerian Intelligence community has failed as usual.
- The leader of the sect vowed to take revenge for the killings in Bauchi.
- A Bomb being handled by a member of the sect detonated in Maiduguri.
- The Taliban group started like this from Yobe-Maiduguri-Kano 2 years back.
With all these pointers,the Intelligence agencies could not avert this recent crisis.
What a shame.This means someone does not know how to do the job.
Honestly someone should be held responsible for the intelligence failure.
Assalamu alaikum,
Allah (SWT) Ya kiyaye dukkan fitina.
Amin, summa amin, EMTL. And in the meantime, more fodder for the hungry anti-north/anti-islamic press! I'm sure these unfortunate incidents will be twisted out of proportion and context. Hmm, big pity... :'(
Well who gave them the fodder? One makes one's bed and so one must lie on it. Besides one should be inured to the slurs of the southern press by now; they have nothing better to report that is all.
Husnaa, with my head buried in shame, I must admit that we gave them the fodder and, sadly, we continue to do so. I have developed a thick skin too but can't help the occasional pain. But is the situation so hopeless? Is it beyond redemption - i mean, other than our oft-repeated mantra of "Allah(SWT) Ya kiyaye", etc?
When I heard the BBC interview with the leader of the group where he said that they were against western education and cited the example of its teaching that rain comes from condensation of evaporated vapors instead of "being sent by Allah(SWT)", I simply did not know what to think! This is a western-educated man who should know that at least in this case, there is no conflict between the "western" teaching and Islam. It seems that some people will use any means necessary to support their cause however ill-conceived. Worst, they will always get followers from the products of our (?) society.
As you so succinctly put it, this is the bed we have made over the years and we must lie on it. Remaking this bed is a herculean task and for now, what can we mere mortals do but supplicate, em, Allah(SWT) Ya kiyaye mana fitina, amin. (even if, mu, ba mu kiyaye wa kanmu ba).
From reading the establishment's reports reproduced at this web site, it is clear to me that Nigeria's intelligence sources were aware that Muhammad Yusuf's Boko Haram were accumulating arms. That was the basis for the arrests. In my opinion, from an outsider looking in, they did a good job based on the info and resources they had to work with. Atleast, so far, this recent mess is not as bad as the Maitatsine disturbances in 1980 Kano which led to more than 10,000 deaths and many more rendered homeless and destitute.
I just read that the sects leader has fled into the bush after a fierce gun battle with the army.
How prepared are the Nigerian army?
Isn't this a lame excuse,that he has fled. The house is within the metropolis,it could have been surrounded 360 degrees to ensure that no one flees the scene.
And couldn't they have used military helicopters to comb the bushes.Infact,are there really bushes in Maiduguri?
Dem don fall my hand honestly.
It is interesting how some people here would rather focus on everything else besides the problem. Is this the first time fundamentalist jihadists have struck? Is this the first time we've witnessed religious incidents like this? When this madness hadn't gotten out of hand, many of you here excused it as the work of a few misguided youth. You blamed destruction of lives and property on frustration emanating from lack of economic empowerment, jobs, etc., and conveniently lied to yourselves about what was really going on.
Now, the self deception has come full circle, and what you once defended has become a problem to you all. But again, like the Ostrich, you'd bury your heads and place blame of law enforcement, on the intelligence community, on everybody else but the those responsible for breaching the peace. Therein lies the problem. You now suddenly remember law enforcement right? Keep in mind that this fugitive Taliban style leader and his group share the same philosophy as most of the northern leaders in regards to national adoption of Sharia, and the Islamization of Nigeria. When the political leaders abandoned civil law and adopted a religious one, they essentially dared the law to reverse their decision. We all know the intelligence community and law enforcement is powerless in your neck of the woods. Before they cough, they must obtain permission. They are too timid, too afraid to operate within their jurisdiction for fear of offending the Lords of the north. So why expect them now to have been on top of this mess when all along their hands were tied behind their backs? You people cannot have it both ways. I am glad this is happening, and hopefully, the fallout from this chaos would affect some of you.
For those who oddly concern themselves with the Southern media, I say you have bigger issues than to worry about how the Southern media would have a field day with this story. The whole World is already aware and have been aware of for some time now about the reoccurring fanaticism from that enclave.
This is a classic example of the chickens coming home to roost. Yes, Husnna, as you make your bed, so shall you lie on it.
Have fun with it while it lasts.
Like I said before the Nigerian security forces and intelligence community should be congratulated for not letting the situation become worse than what it is. I find it interesting that when Nigeria falls under civilian rule religious fanaticism rears its ugly head. But when Nigeria is under military rule, it appears the military is better and more prepared to confine religious fundamentalism. Any comments?
Those who gave the new independent nation of Nigeria a secular constitution were very wise.
The current nonsense with the whole world watching religious zealots disgracing Nigeria again is the result of ignorant and bigoted zealots who don't understand why that first constitution was made that way,
You cannot have a democracy and a theocracy operating in the same space.
They are opposites.
The north of Nigeria has many people who want to walk backwards to the middle ages.
Usman11, I fail to see any reason for your smugness and "i told you so" euphoria. OK, extremists have surfaced several times from OUR "enclave" and rendered havoc culminating in loss of lives and property. Is that enough reason to lambast all muslims? Do such extremists spare other muslims? Are their actions supported or even encouraged by other muslims? Problem with most of your type is ingrained hatred for sharia and its adherents which colors all your perceptions. Sure, every true muslim leader will like to see sharia adopted, but only for muslims. Even the politicians who exploited this desire make this distinction. But somehow, you guys extrapolate this desire to mean islamization of Nigeria, whatever that means.
If bad elements in any society are left to wreak havoc, who else is there to blame than the government and its security agencies? And how can anyone claim that joblessness, ignorance, etc are not factors? Do you know the genesis of this group? Please checkout Dan-Borno's post on http://kanoonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=4671.0 (http://kanoonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=4671.0)
Well, here is some "good" news for you: so long as the situation remains unchanged and we continue to have self-serving, incompetent leaders in place, its only a matter of time before another set of wildcats will arise to give you a chance to "enjoy the fun".
Of course the so-called world media which the southern press apes will have a field day. So what? That's nothing new, bad news sells, and nothing gets reported from our side of the planet but the very worst. You are right on one thing though, that's shouldn't be our concern. But our concern (at least mine) is definitely not "lords of the north" who dared to introduce sharia no matter what their motives could be. No, the greater concern is for the sorry state we are in as a result of collective failure, corruption, etc. This is the bed that we, including you Usman11, must continue to lie on.
Boko Haram leader executed by Nigerian security forces
http://www.bmkdispatch.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=56 (http://www.bmkdispatch.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=56)
nasr 19
The point you make is the significant point. " Sharia law only for muslims" is an understandable and defendable position.
Unfortunately many who are agitating for Sharia law do not sit in this position. They want everybody - moslem and non moslem - to be subject to Sharia law and, in fact, Sharia law to replace Nigeria's laws in parts of Nigeria.
This is anti-democratic and a recipe for national disaster.
Assalamu alaikum,
R>I>P MY.
Did I sound supportive of his actions? I hope not. :D
Dave,sometimes i marvel at how people conclude things.
What made you conclude that most of the people agitating for sharia implementation want even christians to be subjected to the law?
And why is it that the west is not bothered by the practice of sharia in countries like saudi arabia,egypt etc.
Is it only in Nigeria that the implementation of sharia is seen as 'anti-democratic'?
Doesn't democracy give people to the right to practice their religion freely?
Don't generalize please over issues you jut read about in the newspapers.
Unsurprisingly there is the strong temptation, especially among southerners and Western spectators, to portray the Boko Haram incident as part of the 'Pandora's box' effect of political sharia's introduction into Northern Nigeria. I'm not sure about that; we had a similar incident in the Maitatsine riots which claimed much more lives, and long before the present political dispensation. I strongly believe that even in the absence of Sharia, similar movements would have sprung up and made a mess of things.
Northern Nigeria is particulary susceptible to this sort of religious radicalism, not least due to perpetual socio-economic underdevelopment. The other issue I see here is the porous northern border with Niger, Chad and Cameroon. Where else did these militants have gotten hold of such high-tech weaponry? It would not be the first time that foreign elements have taken part in civil disturbances in the North.
You may be right Dave, when speaking of those violently agitating for sharia for reasons aptly captured by Cekenah. But as Gogannaka tried to point out, such people constitute only a tiny fraction of the muslim population and one should resist the temptation to generalize.
The mainstream muslim population is law-abiding and accept democratic government with its inherent imperfections as presently practiced but certainly not at the expense of sharia which is their reason d'être. Is sharia necessarily mutually exclusive with democracy?
Quote from: Cekenah on July 31, 2009, 03:04:42 PM
Unsurprisingly there is the strong temptation, especially among southerners and Western spectators, to portray the Boko Haram incident as part of the 'Pandora's box' effect of political sharia's introduction into Northern Nigeria. I'm not sure about that; we had a similar incident in the Maitatsine riots which claimed much more lives, and long before the present political dispensation. I strongly believe that even in the absence of Sharia, similar movements would have sprung up and made a mess of things.
Northern Nigeria is particulary susceptible to this sort of religious radicalism, not least due to perpetual socio-economic underdevelopment. The other issue I see here is the porous northern border with Niger, Chad and Cameroon. Where else did these militants have gotten hold of such high-tech weaponry? It would not be the first time that foreign elements have taken part in civil disturbances in the North.
I am glad to see that we have at least one southerner who is intelligent educated and well informed and doesnt make wild damning prejudiced and hate filled tirades like usman 11 does. Usman 11, never rejoice in the misfortunes of others, you dont know when ur own will strike with a greater magnitude than the one you rejoice in. You are glad that this has happened. We' ll see what the emboldened Niger Delta youth will perpetrate in yr own neck of the woods since they have been patted on the head by no less than the president for their nefarious actions.
Quote from: Muhsin on July 31, 2009, 12:41:13 PM
Assalamu alaikum,
R>I>P MY.
Did I sound supportive of his actions? I hope not. :D
You hope not that others will conclude that you support him. Well its glaringly obvious you sympathise with him at least. Lets hope u are not of the same vein as he, in yr views about western education.
Gogannaka
I did not generalise and I fully recognise that not all Moslems want to enforce Sharia law instead of secular law. I didn't say that at any point.
And it is no more or no less questionable in Nigeria than it is in any other country. I didn't say otherwise either.
However, are you sure that it is a "tiny" minority?
As far as I can see and from what I hear ( I still have connections in Kano)there is constasnt well supported campaign going on to enforce Sharia law on everybody. Turning a blind eye or giving covert support while pretending not to is much of this problem.
I remember somebody warning on this site a few months ago that there was armed religious zealot infiltrators flooding into the north.
I well remember the Maitatsini bloodbath. I was working with the Min of Ed at the KERC at Gandun Albasa at the time and I had to make my way past corpses at the roadside on several occasions.
Quote from: Dave_McEwan_Hill on July 31, 2009, 11:48:18 PM
Gogannaka
I did not generalise and I fully recognise that not all Moslems want to enforce Sharia law instead of secular law. I didn't say that at any point.
And it is no more or no less questionable in Nigeria than it is in any other country. I didn't say otherwise either.
However, are you sure that it is a "tiny" minority?
As far as I can see and from what I hear ( I still have connections in Kano)there is constasnt well supported campaign going on to enforce Sharia law on everybody. Turning a blind eye or giving covert support while pretending not to is much of this problem.
If yr contacts are ppl like usman 11 then you are getting highly inflammatory, phobic and prejudiced information.
These boko haram followers are a result of poverty, breakdown of civic infrastructures for ones basic physiological needs,unemployment, lack of proper governance and the lackadaisical attitudes of law enforcers at all levels. These ppl are suffering the same frustrations that drove the niger delta youths to commit all sorts of dastardly acts.
My only regret is that these boko haram ppl chose a misguided way to channel their grievances. Obviously from the way they were able to withstand the police and military during the drawn out battles they seemed a highly organized lot. The irony of it is that quite a number of these ppl were first and second degree holders with the potential to become able leaders in the future and the ability to make some great positive contribution to our society had the circumstances been different.
The police as always acted in an underhanded manner by summarily (albeit in a horrible way) dispatching Muhammad Yusuf to Barzakh after he was apprehended and handed over to them. I hope a panel of enquiry is set up to probe this. The danger of letting this matter die down is that it gives the police the wherewithal to begin to murder apprehended citizens and some of the citizens could well be just ordinary muslims without any sectional affiliations.
Quote from: HUSNAA on July 31, 2009, 11:18:22 PM
Quote from: Muhsin on July 31, 2009, 12:41:13 PM
Assalamu alaikum,
R>I>P MY.
Did I sound supportive of his actions? I hope not. :D
You hope not that others will conclude that you support him. Well its glaringly obvious you sympathise with him at least. Lets hope u are not of the same vein as he, in yr views about western education.
Yeah, I sympathise with him and all the guys killed in the crises. And am more than certain you know my stand regarding the Western Education, don't you? lol ;D
Lol Muhsin mu gudu ko mu tsaya? Kai ma dan Boko haram dinne? If so tell us what makes u guys tick.
Quote from: Baruti M. Kamau on July 30, 2009, 09:59:06 PM
Like I said before the Nigerian security forces and intelligence community should be congratulated for not letting the situation become worse than what it is. I find it interesting that when Nigeria falls under civilian rule religious fanaticism rears its ugly head. But when Nigeria is under military rule, it appears the military is better and more prepared to confine religious fundamentalism. Any comments?
That appears to be a correct observation. There is little or no bureaucracy where the military is concerned. An order is given and it is executed pronto. There is no file passing throu in and out trays to 'approve' a directive by an executive... no red tape in other words. That is why things get done a lot quicker under the military, especially when it involves some blood letting (as this is the favorite pasttime of the military).
No Husnaa, my contacts are not unreliable or inflamatory.
They are responsible and senior people.
They have no doubt that there is an appetite to enforce Sharia across the board and a blind eye is being turned to unconstitutional progress of this campaign.
If it continues it will destroy Nigeria.
Some will perhaps enjoy that.
Others will have to make their minds up about whether they want a democratic Nigeria to survive in which people are free worship their God and make thir own moral judgements as they choose or instead have their lives completely controlled by religious zealots in a broken up and fragmented state .
Believe me, once religious zealots are swept to power they will take more and more control till eventually they control everything and destroy all who disagree with them. Many societies have been down this road before and it is an insidious process that starts with a few and eventually captures the many.
Nevertheless Dave, I feel certain that your contacts are not muslims, and in so far as you will get a non muslim's opinion on Islam especially as it pertains to that hotpot Northern Nigeria in general, you will certainly get a lot of misgivings from yr contacts. You could also get yr information from what someone termed as coca cola muslims, i.e. thoroughly westernized and thoroughly ignorant (on matters of the religion itself) muslims, who chafe at restrictions imposed by Islam on lifestyle choices.
I suggest that you get friendly with one reknowned respected and forward looking Sheikh, like Aminudeen Abubakar, or someone like that, who is both well versed in western and Islamic learning. That way you will get a better insight into the complexities of the Northern Nigerian communities.
On the subject of religious zealotry, for as long as there will be social discontent and unrest engendered by ineffective governance, you will find ppl with extremist views who appeal to a section of the society simply because nothing concrete is getting done to improve the lot of society's malcontents. If we could get legitimate governments in place and also get conscienscious ppl to run those governments, the flames of religious fanaticism like the Boko Haram one just experienced, wont have a chance to flare.
As you say and others have noted the social disintegration which is destroying the lives of poor Nigerians fuels much of the extremism.
I have a fairly decent grasp of the complexities of Northern Nigerian society and, believe me, my contacts are responsible moslems.
The fact remains however that the institution of Sharia law will destabilise Nigeria which is in no position to withstand any more destablisation.
If there is majority public support for Sharia law in parts of the north the Federation should be split. You cannot have two non complementary codes of law operating in the same political unit. If there is not majority support Sharia law should remain as a moral code which can be voluntarily followed by moslems who choose to do so.
This is what is happening in UK law where some aspects of sharia law (usually to do with marriage customs)are being accommodated in moslem communities who choose to follow it -but not in any area where it conflicts with UK law or affects the free rights of any person resident in UK
It is time for some serious thought about the long term implications of what is happening presently.
Nigeria on the brink
By The Times of London
FOUR days of violence in Nigeria have left hundreds dead, destroyed towns and villages across the north, brought the cold-blooded police shooting of an Islamist rabble-rouser and left the outside world horrified. Nigeria, with 140 million people, is Africa's largest country. It is also one of the most corrupt, unstable, unequal and fissiparous: in half a century of independence it has seen civil wars, separatist rebellions, military coups, ethnic vendettas and a terrible descent into virtual ungovernability. What happens in Nigeria matters not only to Africa: it affects the huge diaspora in Britain, distorts the oil market, drives international criminality and opens the gates to extremism and terrorism.
The latest violence comes after an uprising by a bizarre Islamist sect, Boko Haram, that urged followers in several northern states to attack police stations, prisons and churches and burn down schools in an attempt to enforce extreme Sharia and rid the country of all Western education. This is not the first such uprising in the north or the only time that militants, who model themselves on the Afghan Taleban, have clashed with federal authority. At least 10,000 people have been killed in sectarian clashes since the Government, attempting to appease the growing current of Islamic extremism after years of military dictatorship, allowed 12 of the northern states to proclaim Sharia. But President Yar'Adua now sees the very unity of Nigeria at stake. After a warning this week that the sect was preparing to unleash "holy war", he ordered troops to eradicate Boko Haram once and for all.
The order has been carried out with indiscriminate brutality. House-to-house searches, gun battles and helicopter searches have killed sect members in scores. Their leader, a university dropout with a violent agenda and views so benighted that he asserted the world was flat and rain was not caused by evaporation but by Allah, was caught in a goats' pen, and shot dead by police after begging for mercy. It is not only his followers who are outraged: many Nigerians and human rights activists have warned of inevitable reprisals and exacerbation of the nation's religious divide.
The uprising, however, is just a symptom of the social breakdown that has made Nigeria so prone to violence. Rampant corruption has undermined even the feeble central government efforts to tackle social inequality, failing health and education systems, the stinking detritus burying most big cities and widespread unemployment. The oil boom has only exacerbated corruption and inequality, and the dreadful conditions in the Niger Delta have spawned an endemic rebellion, regular kidnappings and crime syndicates that siphon off so much oil that total production is running at millions of barrels below capacity.
Into this maelstrom have stepped Islamist extremists. Al-Qaeda has identified Nigeria as fertile ground for its nihilist message, just as it saw Somalia, another failing African state, as a new base for its operations. It is swiftly spreading the jihadist message, exploiting the unease over Sharia by pushing for the most extremist interpretation and recruiting Nigerians as new agents to infiltrate Western society. This is extremely alarming. There is a large Nigerian community in most European countries, and an especially big one in Britain. Already there are fears that organised crime is exploiting the link to racketeering. If al-Qaeda can recruit sleepers among still largely moderate Muslims living in the West, the security services have a nightmare on their hands.
Nigerians are desperate to see better government in Abuja. The onus is now on President Yar'Adua to overcome doubts about his democratic legitimacy, grasp the urgency of Nigeria's situation and save a failing state before he is swept away by violence, despair or another coup.
* This piece was published as an editorial in The Times of London on August 1.
Husnna,
I am not the fringe lunatic attacking police stations and innocent people while claiming that the earth is flat, and that rain comes directly from allah. Political correctness is a fallacy because it rationalizes this insanity that you and other broken record like you attempt to offer as a rational explanation when instance such as this occur. For years, Jihadist apologist like you and Muhsin have offered your irrational theories as to the true causes of these satanic outbursts from many of your cousins from the north. I hope you are not offended by my commentary. They say the truth is unpleasant, but hey, it needs to be told.
Islamic radicalism is a northern problem. You people make all the excuses in the World, but have never owned up to the problem. This is your problem and it is also Islam's problem. I think you all should take responsibility for once, and deal with this problem rather than deceiving yourselves by inventing all kinds of fairy tales about the causes of Islamic extremism in your neck of the woods. The sooner you all grab the bull by the horn and see this scourge for what it really is, the better for you.
These terrorists were poised to attack innocent non Muslims as they always do. Obviously, being crazy does multiple numbers on people's head. Rather than attack innocent and unarmed citizens as previously done, they chose instead to take on law enforcement first. Yea! Madness has a way of twisting one's sense of reason. I'm surprised you all didn't blame this on Israel. ::)
Quote from: usman11 on August 05, 2009, 03:50:54 AM
Husnna,
I am not the fringe lunatic attacking police stations and innocent people while claiming that the earth is flat, and that rain comes directly from allah. Political correctness is a fallacy because it rationalizes this insanity that you and other broken record like you attempt to offer as a rational explanation when instance such as this occur. For years, Jihadist apologist like you and Muhsin have offered your irrational theories as to the true causes of these satanic outbursts from many of your cousins from the north. I hope you are not offended by my commentary. They say the truth is unpleasant, but hey, it needs to be told.
Islamic radicalism is a northern problem. You people make all the excuses in the World, but have never owned up to the problem. This is your problem and it is also Islam's problem. I think you all should take responsibility for once, and deal with this problem rather than deceiving yourselves by inventing all kinds of fairy tales about the causes of Islamic extremism in your neck of the woods. The sooner you all grab the bull by the horn and see this scourge for what it really is, the better for you.
These terrorists were poised to attack innocent non Muslims as they always do. Obviously, being crazy does multiple numbers on people's head. Rather than attack innocent and unarmed citizens as previously done, they chose instead to take on law enforcement first. Yea! Madness has a way of twisting one's sense of reason. I'm surprised you all didn't blame this on Israel. ::)
No I am not offended, because your commentaries are nothing but wild allegations and I have noticed that you are incapable of making cool rational dispassionate and objective comments where Islam is concerned, so you will always react like this and let yr temper get the better of you. Unfortunately this is a failing and a weakness which you must try and overcome. As for me I try to regulate my adrenaline rushes when you go overboard in yr views on Islam, so I am not offended.
Dave, I'm curious to know your sources for this opinion that all Nigerian Muslims want to force Shariah on all of Nigeria?
Na gode abokina Husnaa for confirming my observations. Sorry that Mallam Muhammad Yusuf had to be taken out in an unceremoniously way. But leadership in Africa is hazardous. Everyone who go that path must understand this and be prepared for that uninviting day! If the situation in the Niger Delta continue to degrade, and more armed religious rebellion in the North emerge, then it will become a ripe situation for the military to step back into the driver's seat.
Lol Baruti M Kamau, mutumin Niger ne kai hala? Abokin ka? I am a woman ;D ;D ;D ;D
Baruti M. Kamau
You don't seem to have read my posts correctly.
I didn't at any point say that all Moslems want to enforce Sharia law on all of Nigeria.
I said that some Moslems want to enforce Sharia law on everybody and that this is impossible in any democratic state and it will lead to the break up of Nigeria.
Sharia law as a moral code for Moslems is a perfectly acceptable position to support. Enforcing Sharia law on people who are not Moslems is anti-democratic and wrong.
Nigeria's secular constitution is the only thing that will hold Nigeria together
Quote from: HUSNAA on August 01, 2009, 01:09:52 PM
Lol Muhsin mu gudu ko mu tsaya? Kai ma dan Boko haram dinne? If so tell us what makes u guys tick.
Let me re-make it known: I'm
boko halal! ;D
Gafara dai, my dear respected sister in Islam. Husnaa, I never paid any attention to the name because we are on the Internet. Most people on the net are never what they say they are. I am a Black American Muslim, the avatar associated with my posts is my true photo. I studied Islam in Kano, Nigeria at the Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies an Institution of the Islamic Foundation back in 1991 when strong man Babangida was the administrator.
Well Dave, Cameroon and Benin use to be apart of Nigeria. Hence, Nigeria is alot smaller than what it use to be prior to Independence from the British. Anyway, your postings too me suggest some kind of urgency as though Islam maybe the ultimate culprit in the possible balkanization of Nigeria.
Not Islam but a lack of proper understanding
Intolerance is the problem
Would you find it acceptable if America forced everybody to be Christian?
Actually Dave, there is more religious intolerance and hatred in America than in Nigeria. That's another discussion, I should introduce to one of my online forums at www.BmkDispatch.com (http://www.bmkdispatch.com). Thanks for the idea Dave.
From TIMOTHY OLA, Maiduguri
Thursday, August 6, 2009
One of the victims of last week's attack by the Yusufiya sect in Borno State has given a shocking account of how the Islamic extremists killed three pastors who were captured along with other victims on the second day of the insurgence. The victim was among those held hostage in Yusuf's enclave.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Sun in Maiduguri , the eye witness who preferred anonymity disclosed that the three pastors were beheaded on the instruction of the sect leader, Mohammed Yusuf shortly after bringing them out of his inner chamber.
"The pastors alongside one Ibo man were asked to change their faith to Islam like they did to other people taken as hostages. I think there was an argument by one of the pastors which gave the others some level of confidence to also resist accepting Islam.
"The Yusufiya men who were armed on that Tuesday afternoon were not comfortable with the pastors and they took one of them to the sect leader in his inner chamber. They came out later to the courtyard within the compound and cut their heads one after the other and thereafter, shouted allah akbar in wild celebration accompanied with several gun shots," the eye witness disclosed.
He said the hostages numbering about 50 within the area of the execution of the pastors and another fair complexioned man which he could not identify, were gripped with fear as non could foretell the outcome of their stay at the enclave of the fundamentalists. He was however lucky to escape as he was freed in the night with others with a warning not to mix with kafrici (infidels).
Corroborating the account of the killing, a Senior pastor with Good News Church, Wulari Maiduguri Rev. Baba Gata Ibrahim told Daily Sun in an interview that a pastor in his church, Pastor George Orjih was beheaded on the instruction of the Boko Haram leader because the clergy man refused to accept Islam.
"An eye witness who was also captured by the Islamic militants gave us details of how the pastor was killed. He told us they were persuading him to accept Islam and he said over his dead body. He was even said to have preached Christ to Mohammed Yusuf and that reportedly angered the sect leader who then as he ordered that the pastor and others be killed immediately," he disclosed.
The late Pastor George Orjih was said to have arrived Maiduguri last week from Jos where he was doing his Masters programme in Theology. Described as a fearless, hardworking, and intellectually sound, his care for the welfare and well being of his family allegedly contributed to his capture and eventual death.
"He was mindful of his family and their welfare. He was really out of the house but thought to go back again. That was how he was captured by the Boko Haram before he was killed. It was the very week, in fact the following day he returned from school where he was doing his Masters in Theology that he was arrested," the senior pastor added.
He urged the government to provide adequate security for Christian in the state.
Also delivering a sermon during the funeral rites for late Rev. Sabo Yakubu, slain COCIN Church pastor, the speaker, Rev Bulus Azi urged Christians to emulate the pastors who were killed because of their refusal to betray their faith. Quoting from the bible in Revelation 7: 9-15, the regional chairman of the church told Christians to prepare to die anytime as their calling demand.
- Daily Sun
That is a disgusting account, Usman11, and poor example for Da'wah. Allah (SWT) tells us in Suratul Baqarah that whether you warn them or do not warn them they will not believe. So, I have personally concluded that force should not be employed as a means of persuading one to convert to Islam. If they are interested, then great. If they are not interested, then let them go their way! And let Allah (SWT) be the judge.
It is more likely to be false Baruti. Usman 11 likes posting inflammatory baseless information. It is quite likely that the whole report was written on a whim by the author with not a shred of evidence. I mean imagine beheading a pastor and NO ONE heard of it before the Yusufiyya uprisings and there was NO National UPROAR whatsoever from the christian community. Believe me not only would the killing of one pastor make international headlines, it will escalate into bloodshed and mass murder on both sides - muslims and christians. Tempers have flared and led to as much on a lot less provocation, so how much more would this generate?
Usman 11 has no credibility where Islam is concerned. He hates Islam with as much passion and hatred as shown by the King pin Kufrs of the time of the Prophet SAW. So dont give much weight to that post please.
Na gode dakyau so sai, Husnaa.
Hmm. I wonder where they (Usman11 and co) got that article, for I realize it's being in circulation on all Nigerian discussion forums. And being posted by the same dudes like him.
and there was no uprising and killings of northern muslims in the southern parts of nigeria ba. If the story were true that is one of the surest things that would have happened since its happened every time there is religious conflict between muslims and christians.
Its totally a false baseless story, probably put up by that newspaper/magazine the christian compass.
:o I didn't know Nigerians engaged in charlatan journalism!
lol....of course, kill the messenger, discredit the report, that has always been the strategy when the truth is too bitter to swallow. Will this be the first time Northern Muslim fanatics have beheaded people, burnt homes, churches, and human beings? No! It's been going on for decades denying these facts does not hide the truth.
Mr. Burati, you seem shocked eh? Well, you should be. But before you allow yourself to be deceived by people who are too embarrassed by the activities of fellow Muslims, don't take my word at all. You should do your own independent investigation of these reports. Travel to Northern Nigeria and do your own investigative journalism like it is done here in the U.S. Visit the communities where past acts of violence have occurred and interview victims and survivors to get a first hand account. Then visit the camps of the Jihadist Muslims and interview them. Find out exactly what triggers their insane rage. You just might be flabbergasted at the conclusion of your quest. Decide at that point whose credibility should be called to question.
Is that a fair compromise?
You beguiler!
Is it what you did in gathering your own information? Am talking to you, Usman11.
And, Mr. Baruti does not believe your fabricated news report. Please get off this sort of things.
Usman11, I have a bigger comment concerning this topic. I will post it before I go on vacation Friday morning. I will be writing from a pure black American Muslim perspective who have some personal experience with the clash between Northern and Southern Nigeria (specifically Sabon Gari riots Kano state 1991 and Kaduna riots 1991).