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Race Against Time as terrorists set to murder Kidnapped Clergymen whose lives Hang in the Balance
Boko Haram terrorists have given the church of Pastor Paul Musa an ultimatum: Pay 24 million CFA francs (approximately $39,180.74 USD) within 7 days, or he will be beheaded. Relatives of Pastor Musa believe he is being held in Cameroon.
Reverend David Ayuba Azzaman of Kings Worship Centre International in Kaduna shared this information with TruthNigeria on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Musa’s son called him from Cameroon and informed him of the terrorists’ demands, according to Azzaman.
Musa is a pastor at the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) in Borno. The Church of Christ in Nigeria is one of the most numerous of congregations in northern Nigeria and among the most devastated by attacks by jihadists or Christian-hating bandit terrorists.
“Musa and his wife were kidnapped on March 23, 2023, in Gamboru Ngala, along with other Christians, but he is the only one still alive,” Azzaman tells TruthNigeria.
“The terrorists released a video on Monday, June 24, 2024, giving Musa’s family and church 7 days to pay up or face death. As of Friday, June 29, 2024, he has less than 50 hours left.
The COCIN church has raised an amount and offered it to the terrorists, but the terrorists consider it insufficient.
“His church members were able to raise a small amount of money and send it to the terrorists, but they refused, adding that it was not sufficient,” according to Azzaman.
Christian leaders speak out
In an exclusive interview with TruthNigeria, the Chairman of the Borno State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Rev. Dr. John Bakeni, vowed to bring the plight of kidnapped Pastor Paul Musa to the attention of Gov. Baba Umara Zulum, seeking his urgent intervention.
Multiple videos featuring Pastor Musa have surfaced in the past, and CAN has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the safe release of all Christian captives, including Pastor Musa, according to Bakeni.
He made a heartfelt appeal, saying, “I urge the Governor to intervene and secure the safe return of Pastor Musa and his wife. I also call on all Christians across the state and country to pray fervently, seeking God’s intervention and salvation for the Musa family.”
Jihadists now target Bishop Naga
The Christian community in the northeastern region of Nigeria is facing a dire situation, with Christians becoming targets for jihadists such as Boko Haram and ISWAP. The chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the Northeast region, Bishop Mohammad Naga, told TruthNigeria while commenting on the plight of Pastor Paul Musa and the larger Christian community.
“It’s a dire situation; from Maiduguri in the Northeast to Benue in the Middle Belt, these jihadists are targeting and killing Christians,” Bishop Naga explained.
“After failing to impose Sharia law and Islamize the country, they’ve resorted to kidnapping, killing, and destroying Christians’ livelihoods. The situation is becoming increasingly desperate, and we urge the government to take immediate action to protect our community.”
Naga urged Borno State Governor Baba Umara Zulum to intervene and ensure Pastor Musa’s and his wife’s safe return.
“I appeal to Governor Zulum, in the name of God, to do everything possible to prevent the terrorists from killing Pastor Musa. Let him use his office to bring Musa and his wife back alive. We need the government to take concrete steps to address this crisis and ensure the safety of our people.”
The pleas from Rev. Naga and Most Rev. Dr. John Bakeni come as the clock ticks away on the terrorists’ deadline, leaving the Christian community anxiously awaiting a miraculous intervention.
Kidnapped Catholic Priest Threatened
A similar tragedy has struck again in Zamfara State, as another religious leader, Father Mikah Suleiman, has been kidnapped by Fulani bandit-terrorists and threatened with death.
A heart-breaking video shows the Catholic priest in the forest of Zamfara pleading for his life, battered and shaken.
Father Suleiman was taken from his church in Damba, Gusau, on June 22, 2024. In the distressing video, he begs for help, his eyes filled with tears and fear. “Please, I beg of you, help me! I’m the only one here, and they’ll kill me if a ransom isn’t paid immediately. Don’t abandon me to these monsters!”
According to Gambo Abubakar, a seasoned journalist in Gusau, the terrorists had issued a ransom demand to the church, but it appears the church failed to respond promptly, leading the terrorists to issue a dire ultimatum.“
Speaking to TruthNigeria, Azzaman said, “Fulani terrorists, Boko Haram Boko Haram, ISWAP and Ansaru are united in one thing, to kill, maim and render Christians penniless while displacing them from their ancestral lands.
“If you check the news these days, either Fulani terrorists are kidnapping wives and children of pastors, or they are killing the pastors.
“Within the past two weeks, more than three pastors and their wives have been kidnapped for ransom in the Northwest.
“In the Northeast, many Christians are being slaughtered by terrorists.
“in the Middle Belt, the states of Plateau, Benue, Taraba and Kogi are being ravaged by Islamists,” Azzaman said.
Government Silent On Kidnapping and Killings
Azzaman also charged the Federal Government and State Governments for not doing enough to hold the terrorists to account.
“When Christians are killed, the Federal and State governments are quiet, and they do not condemn the acts, nor do they send troops to find the perpetrators,” he said. TruthNigeria refers to this ongoing quiescent condition as a “Conspiracy of Silence.”
Efforts by TruthNigeria to get a response from the Catholic Church leadership in Zamfara and the Nigerian Police Force concerning the fate of the priest failed, as phone calls to the Catholic officials in Gusau were not answered or returned.
The U.S. State Department regularly attributes the violence in Nigeria to the effect of climate change or “farmer-herder clashes.” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the U.S. Congressional Committee on Appropriations on May 22 that the atrocities in Nigeria are concerning but “have nothing to do with religion.”
Yet, since 2000, 62,000 Christians in Nigeria have been murdered in genocide perpetrated by Islamist jihadist groups including Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and Fulani militias, according to the non-profit Genocide Watch. The International Committee for Nigeria refers to this genocide as the “Silent Slaughter.”
Sources: TruthNigeria
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has decided not to attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York this year.
The president has thus directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation.
President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the United Kingdom, according to a statement yesterday by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding.
“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings.”
“The high-level General Debate, with the theme ‘Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,’ will run from Tuesday, September 24, through Saturday, September 28, 2024,” the statement added.
Since return to democratic governance in 199, Shettima will be the first Vice President to Nigeria’s delegation to UNGA.
Only Goodluck Jonathan represented Nigeria as Acting president in September 2010 at the 65th UNGA, while late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua was away in Saudi Arabia due to his ill health.
The Plateau State House of Assembly, on Thursday, approved N5.8bn for the conduct of the local government election in the state slated for October 9, 2024.
The approval by the House followed a communication from Governor Caleb Mutfwang, which was read at plenary by the Assembly Speaker, Gabriel Dewan.
The Speaker stated that the request was necessary as there was no budgetary allocation for the LG elections in the 2024 budget.
A member of the State Assembly, who declined to be named because he was not authorised to speak for the Assembly, confirmed the development to The PUNCH in Jos on Thursday.
The lawmaker said, “Governor Mutfwang, at Tuesday’s plenary, sought the House’s approval for N5.7bn as the 2024 supplementary, which was increased after upward review by the legislators.”
He continued, “The House leader, Joseph Bukar, presented the bill during our plenary. While soliciting the support of members for speedy passage, he said PLASIEC was running out of time in preparation for the election.”
“In their individual contributions, Hon. Kalamu Dal suggested a downward review of the budget size, while Hon. Daniel Nanbol urged for a critical review and deliberations. Afterwards, members approved a revised sum of N5.8bn, as opposed to the N5.7bn requested.”
The increase, as explained by Bukar, was due to an increase in security allocation for the election, from N2.7m to N4.2m. “So, that is what happened, and that is where we are at the moment regarding the forthcoming LG election,” the lawmaker concluded.
Security measures have been intensified in Enugu and Kwara states ahead of their Local Government elections scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2024.
In Enugu State, the Police Command has pledged to ensure the safety of lives and properties during the elections.
However, the peace accord signing for the elections was marred by the absence of major parties like the Peoples Democratic Party, All Progressives Congress, and Labour Party.
Only representatives from the All Progressives Grand Alliance and Accord attended but chose not to sign the accord, citing the lack of participation from the leading parties.
Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, said all wards and flashpoints had been identified, and security personnel would be on high alert to prevent any disruptions.
The Chairman of the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission, Prof. Chris Ngwu, said the commission was fully prepared for the elections with the support of the state government in procuring necessary materials.
In Kwara State, security agencies have been actively coordinating to ensure a smooth electoral process.
Over 3,000 personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have been deployed across the state.
The Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission has completed arrangements for a trouble-free election.
Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, reported that a strategic meeting with heads of various security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, and others, had been held to ensure coordinated efforts for maintaining law and order.
The Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, guaranteed maximum security for the election period.
The NSCDC Commandant, Dr. Umar Mohammed, announced the deployment of 3,000 personnel to various polling units and emphasised their role in preventing violence, ballot snatching, and other disruptions.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, Telumun Tombowua, announced on Thursday that eight political parties will participate in the upcoming LG elections in the state, scheduled for October 5, 2024.
Addressing journalists in Makurdi, Tombowua said the election would be conducted fairly and transparently.
He emphasised that the law establishing the BSIEC does not permit the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation Machines for this election.
Regarding the APC, Tombowua confirmed that the National Working Committee of the party had requested the commission to work with the seven-man caretaker committee appointed to oversee party affairs in the state.
He noted that while 14 parties had initially shown interest, only eight completed the necessary processes and submitted their candidates.
Shettima becomes 1st VP to lead Nigeria’s delegation to UN Assembly in 25 yrs
Plateau Assembly approves N5.8bn for LG election
Enugu, Kwara tighten security ahead of LG polls
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