By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Rev Matthew Kukah, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, testified before the United States Congressional Human Rights Commission on July 13 that religious violence against Christians in Nigeria has risen steadily in the past 10 years.
Kukah said President Muhammadu Buhari is not interested in dealing with terrorists, failing to deliver on his campaign promise to tackle insecurity, which made him win the Villa in 2015.
Buhari’s Media Assistant Garba Shehu dismissed the testimony as lies, ignoring public knowledge that Kukah is a man of integrity who has spoken truth to power for decades, pointing out abuses by military and civilian regimes alike.
Buhari proves Kukah’s testimony
Emmanuel Ogebe of US Nigeria Law Group reacted to Shehu’s tirade in a statement below which contains additional facts that buttress the submission by Kukah.
The details, among others, include
· Account of religious persecution in China
· Account of religious persecution in Pakistan
· Undisputed truth about Fulani supremacism in Nigeria known to the world
· Genocide inflicted on Christians in Kaduna by Fulani herdsmen
Ogebe’s statement is published verbatim below with only minor editing for content and house style:
“Kukah has been unjustly but expectedly vilified by the Buhari regime for speaking the truth about the horrific Nigerian situation before the US Congress.
“However, to put things in proper context, as one who has testified numerous times in Congress myself and been subjected to even worse attacks by the Buhari regime, including the plot to revoke my Nigerian passport, I am providing below excerpts of what else was said [during the Congressional hearing].
“On The State of Religious Freedom Around the Globe, in a 10-page Statement of Rev. Bob Fu, PhD., Founder and President of China Aid Association finished his remarks with following:
Conclusion
“Regardless of China’s attempts to block information on persecution from reaching the outside world, ChinaAid’s research shows that religious oppression continues to increase with each passing year since 2017.
“As China advances its plan to Sinicize Christianity and other religions with forced indoctrination of Communism ideology, authorities all over the country are interfering with normal religious operations and arbitrarily detaining and arresting hundreds of thousands of religious believers purely for peacefully practicing their religious faith.
“Given the observed universality in which the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] persecuted both officially sanctioned and independent religions and faiths, ChinaAid has concluded that the CCP’s war on religion will continue to grow unless the world intervenes.
Recommendations
“To hold the CCP’s ‘bad actors’ accountable for their actions, ChinaAid and I urge the United States government to continue to implement and utilize the Global Magnitsky sanctions against the [CCP] members committing and delegating gross human rights abuses.
“This should include those who commit violations of freedom of religion and belief in Article 18 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“The United States government should continue to work with like minded countries in implementing bilateral sanctions like those announced in March 2021.
“I also urge Congress to quickly pass the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act in order to confront the vast labor system put in place by the [CCP] that effectively profits off the genocide of an ethnic and religious minority.
“In addition, U.S. Congress should raise the alarm considering the 2022 Winter Olympics hosted in Beijing, China. A country with as poor a human rights record and actively committing genocide should be disqualified from hosting international events such as Olympics.
“The United States should boycott the Beijing Olympics and call on other countries who adhere to universal values to do the same.
“It is equally important to show solidarity with victims of religious persecution by having members of Congress continue to meet with persecution survivors and adopt Chinese prisoners of conscience through the Defending Freedoms Project.
“In the Administration, President [Joe] Biden and Vice President [Kamala] Harris should meet and host the victims of persecution and genocide in public at the White House and the United Nations in New York and Geneva.”
“Similarly in a seven-page statement, Amjad Mahmood Khan, National Director of Public Affairs Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, concluded thus:
Recommendations
“Mr. Chairman, I request this important body to urge the Pakistan Government to take the following immediate measures to stop the tide of religious repression of Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan:
1. “Repeal Chief Executive’s Order No. 15 and permit Ahmadi Muslims to vote alongside all other citizens of Pakistan as part of a joint electorate without any religious test.
2. “Stop the extra-territorial prosecution of foreign citizens for alleged cyber and blasphemy crimes, including U.S. citizens who are members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
3. “Cease and desist from directing technology companies to remove or alter Ahmadi Muslim digital content.
4. “Repeal regulations that prohibit the creation, possession and distribution of peaceful Ahmadi Muslim print publications.
5. “Protect the rights of accused Ahmadi Muslims in criminal proceedings and allow independent trial monitors, including foreign diplomats.
6. “Stop local and provincial police from desecrating Ahmadi Muslim mosques and gravestones.
7. “Remove Passport and National Identity Declarations pertaining to Ahmadi Muslims.
8. “Restore religious freedom for Ahmadi Muslims through repeal of the Second Amendment to Pakistan’s Constitution and Ordinance XX.
9. “Cease prosecuting Ahmadi Muslims as ‘terrorists’ under Pakistan’s anti-terrorism laws.
10. “Combat impunity for attacks on Ahmadi Muslims by effectively investigating allegations and by prosecuting those responsible.
Comparison with Kukah’s submission
“Clearly from the above samples, … Kukah’s three-page submission did not go anywhere near the tough/robust critique and recommendations made by his Chinese and Pakistani co-panelists.
“Indeed the Co-chair of the Congressional hearing Rep Chris Smith said:
‘“In Nigeria we see a country which, on paper, has robust legal protections for all religions, but in practice is now a country where many religious and ethnic groups perceive themselves to be under serious threat.
‘“While much attention has focused on extremist terror by Salafist groups such as Boko Haram and breakaway factions such as Islamic State West Africa or Ansaru against those they consider infidels, that is not the only threat.
‘“Nor is it from climate change or ‘farmer-herder conflict,’ a popular narrative favored by the State Department and certain academics, but a narrative which is woefully incomplete.
‘“Rather, the principle threat comes from Fulani ethno-religious supremacism, which has been actively encouraged and abetted by the current administration of Muhammadu Buhari.
‘“It is important to note that this cannot be labelled strictly a Muslim-Christian conflict, though Christians, particularly in the Middle Belt of Nigeria, are often targeted by Fulani Muslim extremists.
‘“So too are Shia Muslims, however, as well as ethnic Yoruba, who can either be Muslim and Christian, and often have families where interreligious marriage is commonplace.
‘“What we are seeing unfold in Nigeria under … Buhari is the deliberate Fulanization of Nigerian institutions. This can be seen, for example, in the sacking of the Chief Justice of the Nigerian Supreme Court Walter Onnoghen and his replacement by Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad.
‘“It can be seen, for example, in the monopolisation of key security and military as well as economic leadership positions by Fulanis appointed by Buhari in recent years, including National Security Advisor, the Chief of Staff to the President, the Inspector General of the Police, the head of the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Minister of Police Affairs, the Ministers of Justice, Finance, Education and Agriculture, the heads of the National Petroleum Corporation and the Federal Inland Revenue Services, as well as the Chief of Army Staff – more than 30 key positions at the highest level of government.
‘“Nor is this a new agenda; if you speak with Nigerians or listen to what Fulani say in Fulfulde or Hausa, you will hear expressed the desire to fulfill the jihadist ambitions of Usman dan Fodio, who in the late 18th and early 19th century sought to spread Islam to the sea under a Fulani spear, displacing and subjugating the far older Kanuri-dominated Islamic political order.
‘“As goes Nigeria, so goes all West Africa, underscoring the importance of respect for ethnic and religious pluralism in this critically important African nation.
‘“I think it is also important to underscore the fact that the single most persecuted religious group in the world is Christians, and that often these persecuted Christians come from the most economically downtrodden and marginalized classes.’
Undisputed facts known to the worldwide
“The above are undisputed facts known to the whole world so what does the Nigerian government think attacking … Kukah will achieve other than sheer intimidation of truth tellers?
“It is instructive that the Buhari regime had just warned the media not to report the truth about the insecurity in the country.
“The regime had also arrested the pussy cat of Sunday Igboho in a stupefying display of mindless cowardice and dictatorial paranoia.
“Ironically, by its actions, the regime has proved Kukah right. Buhari who didn’t fire [Abubakar] Patami for supporting terrorism is insulting … Kukah for condemning terrorism.
“[Sunday] Igboho and [Nnamdi] Kanu, southern ethnic advocates, are being abducted abroad while [Ahmed] Gumi and other northern governors … are photographed with bandits [and that hasn’t] led to their arrest.
“Now bandits are shooting down Airforce fighter jets in total vindication of the legitimate concerns the revered clergyman raised. Clearly only clerics of the wrong religion can be lambasted by the Buhari regime.
“Indeed … Kukah did not even highlight the atrocities going on in his home state of Kaduna that very day as he spoke.
Genocide in Kaduna
“Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) issued a statement on July 13, 2021, titled ‘The Ongoing Genocide in Southern Kaduna’.
“The statement reads:
‘“For the 6th day running, armed gunmen, identified as Fulani herdsmen by victims, lay siege to several communities in Atyap land, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area (LGA) of Southern Kaduna and left no less than 33 people dead in an ongoing genocide and land grabbing in which 108 Southern Kaduna communities have been displaced and taken over by them since 2019.
‘“In the latest orgy of bloodshed, the invaders stormed Magamiya village last night around 11pm and started shooting.
‘“The family compound of the traditional ruler of Atyap Chiefdom, Agwatyap of Atyap Chiefdom, … Dominic Yahaya was attacked.
‘“Several blocks of flats and rooms that make up the family compound of five households were looted of valuables and foodstuffs which were carted into four waiting Hilux vans.
‘“The houses were then set ablaze. A relation of the revered traditional ruler, Mr. Toma Tauna, 70, was killed by the assailants.
‘“They went further to loot 6 more homes which they also burnt leaving Mathew Pama, 62, dead in the same village.
‘“After putting in about 2 hours of unchallenged murder, looting and arson, they armed herdsmen attempted to burn down St Pious Catholic Church in the village, but help came from other villages and [the] attackers retreated in the Hilux vans for another village.
‘“Magamiya is about 3km from Zangon Kataf semi-urban town where combined troops of soldiers and other security men are camped complete with patrol vehicles and armoured tanks.
‘“The same assailants returned and passed beside Zango Kataf town and drove 5km west of the town and attacked three other villages from around 1:30 am this morning.
‘“In the attacks, Matyei made up of 156 homes were all burnt. The Catholic Church in Matei and its pastorium was burnt. The Catchiest, simply known as Catchiest Yau, and an infant, were killed in the attack.
“In all, 8 persons were killed last night in Matyei in a violence that lasted for over an hour.
‘“The armed Fulani herdsmen then went down to Abuyab Community about 500 metres away and burnt down ECWA Church Abuyab and the home of Former ECOMOG Field Commander, Maj. Gen. Shekari Billyok (rtd) and 11 homes.
‘“Their attempt to attack Runji community nearby was repelled by villagers who got reinforcement elsewhere.
‘“As they retreated, they attempted to destroy the main bridge linking Matyei with Zangon Kataf town and other Atyap Communities, but only succeeded partially.
‘“Yesterday [July 12], before the night attacks occurred, the same armed herdsmen came in Hilux vans and attacked the Atyap of Makarau and Kachechere communities leaving 10 people confirmed dead, 12 houses burned after looting them.
‘“The ECWA and the Anglican Church pastoriums that serves the communities were set ablaze.
‘“In a nutshell, 20 Atyap natives were killed by attackers (who all the villagers that saw them) identified as armed herdsmen between afternoon and today’s morning, Tuesday, 13 July, 2021.
‘“The previous day, Sunday, 11th July, Warkan community, about 7 km east of Matyei, came under fire by armed herdsmen, leaving 8 people dead. The village was looted and animals rustled before 11 homes were burnt by [the] invaders.
‘“On 9th July, 2021, Timothy Ayok, 35, from Makarau village, was ambush[ed] and killed dastardly by armed herdsmen as he returned from his farm that afternoon.
‘“On 8th July, at Kibori village, about 1km from Zangon Kataf town, a widow, Mrs Esther Patrick, 65, and her family of three were wiped out, including her 6-year-old grandchild, Yerima Godfrey.
‘“Therefore, in the past 6 days, at least 33 Atyap natives of Zangon Kataf area were massacred, 4 churches and 215 homes burnt by assailants always identified as armed herdsmen in a genocidal campaign that has been become very intensive since 2016.
‘“SOKAPU condemn[s] this wicked act and the complicit silence and in action of government from taking steps to bringing the perpetrators and their leaders to justice.
‘“Our Atyap members have been consistent in accusing the Hausa settlers of Zangon Kataf semi urban town of harbouring killer herdsmen, yet no authority has done anything about it.
‘“On the 31st March, 2021, some Fulani squatters on Atyap land complained that their cattle and sheep were killed by Atyap persons.
‘“In a swift move, 15 Atyap leaders from 4 indicted communities were arrested by troops, detained for days [and] handed over to Kaduna State Police Command Headquarters.
‘“The police alleged that the Atyap leaders, among them 85-year-old Waje Laah, killed 706 Fulani cows and 75 rams in a single day and buried them in a ditch same day, which every rational person knows is an impossible feat to accomplish.
‘“But all the same, they were kept in detention for three months without trial and only released on bail last week.
‘“Meanwhile not less than 100 Atyap natives had been killed and about 24 Atyap villages burnt and hundreds of hectares of farmland bearing growing food crops destroyed by Fulani cows since July 2020.
‘“Not a single Fulani leader has been called for questioning.
‘“We are hereby calling for humanitarian assistance for the thousands of displaced Atyap women and children who are still moving away from several villages to various places around Samaru Kataf, Zonkwa and environs.
‘“We are also calling on NEMA and SEMA to provide immediate relieve materials to the displaced persons.
‘“We call on the Nigerian Human Rights Commission, Amnesty International, the United Nations and all relevant international organizations, including local NGOs and Human Rights groups, to bear pressure on the Federal Government and Kaduna State Governments to stop the genocide in Atyap land and bring the culprits to justice.
‘“Sign: Luka Binniyat
SOKAPU Spokesman.’
“Advocate Reuben Buhari also reported that:
‘“In three months, from April 1st to June 30th, 222 were killed while 774 people were kidnapped in Kaduna State. We are talking about 222 people killed in just 3 months. In addition, 20 people were raped and 266 injured.
‘“The earlier given first-quarter report shows that 323 were killed while 949 got kidnapped, also in 3 months.
‘“So in six months, 545 were killed while 1,723 people were kidnapped in my Kaduna State. And these statistics are only those victims that became public. Some casualties in some remote villages do not even get reported.
‘“So, with the spiraling insecurity in Kaduna, only God Knows those that would, unfortunately, make the statistics for the 3rd quarter. May God protect us.’
Misguided government
“Rather than explain to Nigerians how ordinary ‘bandits’ who have received billions [of naira] in ransom money were able to shoot down an Alpha fighter jet, a misguided government is lampooning an esteemed cleric.
“I extend my felicitations and commiseration to … Kukah and urge him to take these attacks as a badge of honor and the price of integrity for which he will not lose his divine reward.
“I have been in his shoes and the government minister Aisha Alhassan who thought she was god and attacked me for testifying in the US Congress is now no more.
“Happy Sallah to the good people of Nigeria and may Nigeria’s wicked misrulers repent of their errant ways.
“Emmanuel Ogebe
US NIGERIA LAW GROUP”