By Trinita Obu
Nigeria stands at a crossroads where grief is becoming routine, and silence is becoming dangerous. The persistent killing and abduction of Christians across several regions particularly the Middle Belt and parts of the North has become a national wound we no longer have the luxury to ignore.
These tragedies are not isolated occurrences; they are symptoms of deeper national weaknesses, especially our long-standing lack of historical consciousness and the failure of our educational system to teach history in a way that would prevent the repetition of past atrocities.
THE COST OF A COUNTRY WITHOUT MEMORY
A nation that does not study its past will continually misdiagnose its present.
Nigeria removed history as a standalone subject from its basic education curriculum for many years. That single act created a generation of children and adults who do not know:
* How previous religious crises started
* How ethnic tensions were manipulated
* How colonial and post-colonial conflicts shaped today’s violence
* How extremist ideologies crept into the region decades ago
Because we do not teach historical patterns, we fail to track the progression of violence. What we call “new attacks” are often continuations of unresolved conflicts from decades ago-conflicts our citizens know nothing about.
A nation with no memory becomes a nation with no strategy.
THE ROOTS OF MODERN TERRORISM IN WEST AFRICA
There is a widespread misunderstanding in Nigeria about the origins of “modern-day terrorism.” While terrorists did not literally descend from the Iraq War, the ideological and operational influence of Middle Eastern conflicts deeply reshaped extremist networks across Africa.
The spread of radical fighters after the Middle Eastern wars, the fall of regimes like Libya, and the rise of global extremist movements opened the gateway for new militant doctrines to enter West Africa, including Nigeria. Groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP aligned themselves with global extremist ideologies that grew out of decades of conflict in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.
But it is important to say clearly:
Terrorists do not represent Islam.
Terrorists do not represent the Middle East.
Terrorists do not represent any ethnic group.
They represent only terror.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRUE MUSLIMS AND EXTREMISTS
One of the most dangerous beliefs in Nigeria is the assumption that Islam supports violence. This is historically and scripturally false.
What Islam Actually Teaches
* Islam forbids killing innocents
* Islam recognizes Christians and Jews as “People of the Book”
* Islam advocates religious coexistence
* Prophet Muhammad (SAW) condemned murder clearly
The Qur’an says:
“Whoever kills a soul…it is as if he has killed all mankind.” (Qur’an 5:32)
True Muslims follow this teaching.
What Terrorists Practice
Terrorists are not Muslims; they are criminals who manipulate religious texts for brutality. They pick only what suits their agenda, twist meanings, and brainwash followers.
Where Muslims build, terrorists destroy.
Where Islam teaches peace, terrorists preach chaos.
Where Muslims embrace humanity, terrorists impose fear.
CLEARING THE MISCONCEPTION: “ISLAM COMMANDS MUSLIMS TO KILL IN ALLAH’S NAME”
Many Nigerians wrongly believe that Islam encourages killing in God’s name. This misconception grows because:
1. Our poor history education prevents people from understanding the political roots of terrorism
2. Many citizens cannot differentiate between religion and extremist ideology
3. Terrorist propaganda deliberately distorts Islamic teachings
4. Social media amplifies false narratives
Islam does not command Muslims to kill Christians.
Islam does not justify forced conversion.
Islam does not support terrorism.
To assume otherwise is not just wrong: it is dangerous.
THE CRY OF CHRISTIANS IN NIGERIA: A NATIONAL EMERGENCY
The killings and abductions of Christians, especially in Kaduna, Plateau, Benue, Taraba, and other regions, are not a Christian issue alone.
They are a national security emergency.
When a church is attacked, Nigeria is attacked.
When a Christian is abducted or killed, Nigeria bleeds.
When any religious group is targeted, the nation fractures.
A secure Nigeria must guarantee the safety of Christians, Muslims, and everyone else.
THE WAY FORWARD: WHAT NIGERIA MUST DO NOW
1. Restore and strengthen history education
Teach Nigerian, African, and world conflict history in all schools.
2. Track extremist networks using intelligence and historical data
We cannot solve a problem whose roots we do not understand.
3. Promote interfaith understanding
Teaching religious literacy will defeat ignorance more than any weapon.
4. Demand accountability and justice
Silence encourages murder. Justice discourages terror.
5. Strengthen national unity
Christians and Muslims are not enemies.
Our real enemies are those who profit from division.
Nigeria must rise above ignorance, extremism, and manipulated narratives. The blood of innocent Christians cannot be allowed to soak our soil without consequence. But we must also guard our minds against hatred, false assumptions, and religious stereotypes.
Let history guide us.
Let justice lead us.
Let truth defend us.
And let unity save us.
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