Pastors and Christians in Northern Nigeria under the umbrella of Arewa Christians and Indigenous Pastors Association (ACIPA) have reacted to the killing of Miss. Deborah Emmanuel, and made a six-point demand on both the Federal and state governments in Northern Nigeria. The body of Miss Deborah Emmanuel was laid to rest on Saturday in Tunga Magajiya, Niger State.
In a press release signed by Rev. Luke Shehu, the Arewa Christians and Indigenous Pastors Association (ACIPA) has described the killing of Deborah Emmanuel at Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Nigeria, as despicable, shameful, and barbaric.
The press release was copied to the Office of National Security Adviser, His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto, the Executive Governor of Sokoto, Northern State Governors, and Religious clerics. Others are the DSS, IGP, CDS, CAS and Media organisations in the country.
According to the release, ‘the late Miss. Deborah Emmanuel hails from Sakaba Local Government of Kebbi State, while her family resides at Rijau Local Government of Niger State.
‘The gruesome murder of Deborah in an institution of higher learning and carried out by student colleagues due to an alleged blasphemy of the Prophet of Islam is shocking as it is unimaginable!
‘We are not surprised that the perpetrators of this heinous act are drunk under the opiates of radical Islamic clerics, as there is video evidence(s) to prove.
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‘We as Pastors and Christians in Northern Nigeria have since seen the light and power of Christ Jesus, who fights for His name and religion. If Muslims choose to fight for their Prophet or Holy book, let it be on those Muslims who subscribe to Islamic Sharia.
‘The Federal Government, Sokoto state government, and the security operatives have failed in their responsibilities by not restraining the Islamic clerics who have been propagating inciting and hateful messages, particularly against Christians.
‘The intolerant and hateful messages of radical Islamic clerics who include the likes of Dr Abdullah Gadon Kaya is a kind of Fatwah even before the act of blasphemy.
‘Also, the position of the Chief Imam of Abuja Central Mosque, Professor Ibrahim Maqari, supporting the murder of Deborah, confirmed our suspicion that the killing has the support of high ranking Muslim clerics and some politicians.
‘In view of the pronouncements of the Imam, endorsing and commending the actions of the murderers of Deborah for “crossing” Islam’s “redline”, he should be immediately reprimanded to serve as an example to other clerics who share in this radical Islamist ideology and superiority.
‘Arewa, Nigerian Christians, and the totality of Nigerians want to know if the sharia supersedes the Nigerian Constitution and if sharia laws should apply to Christians in a secular Nigeria. Suppose the Koran and Sharia Islamic Jurisprudence supersede our Constitutions.
‘In that case, this is when we, the Northern and middle belt Christians, begin to renegotiate our existence under questionable equality and Constitutional rights provisions for Nigerians.
‘In view of the forthcoming general elections in 2023 and with the intelligence at our disposal, we are aware of the machinations and conspiracies to impose a stooge at the behest of the Northern Islamist kingmaker as the president of Nigeria in 2023. This also is unacceptable.
‘Also, in view of the information available to us on the infiltration of Islamic radical elements into the armed forces of Nigeria, and the inherent dangers and risk of a circle of vendetta that may lead to a religious war, we, hereby, demand the following:
DEMANDS
- From now henceforth, the Federal Government, security operatives, and state governments, with particular reference to Sokoto, Kano, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Borno, Yobe, Niger and Jigawa state governments, should call all Islamic clerics known for hate and inciteful speeches to order with immediate effect.
- We call on the Federal Government to compel the Nigerian army to change the Arabic inscription on the Nigerian Army crescent to English, our common and acceptable language.
- We demand that the Sokoto state government and the Islamic council of Sokoto should render a public apology for the murder of Miss Deborah Emmanuel. Doing this will confirm their non-endorsement of such barbaric acts and condoning such insightful and hateful messages and actions leading to repeat such occurrences.
- In view of the wide acceptance, celebration and justification of the gruesome murder of Deborah by some Muslims, the sultanate, Sokoto state government, and Northern State governments should go beyond condemning the act, calling for peace and prosecution of the perpetrators.
- The sultanate, states and federal government should place an order and law against Islamic clerics directing Muslims to kill those who blaspheme against the Prophet of Islam or the Holy Koran. Such laws should apply to Muslims only.
- We demand that the Sokoto State Government immediately and without hesitation render an apology and make necessary compensations (Diya) to the family of late Miss. Deborah Emmanuel.
