Incessant attacks on civilians, Christians, students and security agents by members of the Boko Haram Islamist sect are the work of the devil, President Goodluck Jonathan has said.
Speaking on Sunday in Abuja at the 53rd Independence Anniversary Interdenominational Church Service, the president expressed hope that the country will someday overcome its terrorism challenges.
“The killings going on in the country are the creation of the devil to slow down the pace of development of this nation,” Jonathan said.
“The forces of evil may continue to push us backward but we will overcome our challenges. As we look forward to the Centenary celebration, there are questions whether Lord Lugard made a mistake by amalgamating the Northern and Southern Nigeria but we know that God does not make any mistake.
Jonathan lamented the recent killing of tens of 21 students by the sect in Yobe State in the early hours of Sunday, admitting that he lacked the rights words to say to Nigerians.
“If you are in my shoe, what courage will you have to stand here before Nigerians? What message will you give to the parents of the deceased? Will you say that the killing is political? These students are not members of any political party,” he said.
“Will you say it is ethnic cleansing? These students belong to different ethnic groups in Nigeria. Will you say the killing is religious? These students, are they Christians or Muslims? These are the questions we are confronted with everyday but you will agree with me that we have hope.
“We have hope and by God’s grace will get to where we want to go as a nation. The challenge we are seeing now is transient. No Boko Haram or any group will frustrate this country. All these are happening to slow us down as a nation but Nigeria has reached the turning point where we must move and join the developed societies.”
Also speaking, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo chronicled the effects of acts of terrorism in the North, saying more than 10,000 Nigerians, mainly indigenes and residents of Borno and Yobe states, are currently taking refuge in neighbouring Cameroun.
“As we speak, according to the United Nations Report, there are over 10,000 Nigerians refugees in Cameroon because of the activities of some mad men who call themselves members of Boko Haram [and] who have no dignity and respect for humanity. It’s happening everyday and not just in Cameroon alone,” he said.
“Nigeria is in the hands of God; no one has power over this nation. God is in control. One of the things troubling this nation is terrible demonic sacrifices that men have made: human sacrifices and live cow sacrifices for wealth and political powers.”
