Christmas is a period of celebration. It is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a season of thanksgiving, sharing and exchange of gifts. It is one of the most widely observed holidays worldwide. Unfortunately, for three years running Nigerian Christians have had to celebrate black Christmas not because of the colour of their skin but because some people decided to paint these global celebration black for them; to rob Nigerian Christians of the true happiness of Christmas; and put them in perpetual tears, sorrow and pains. How long will the blood of innocent Nigerian Christians be used to water Nigeria?
During the December 2010 Christmas Eve, at least 80 people
were killed, during series of attacks on churches, around Jos. Boko Haram
claims responsibility for the attacks, which trigger deadly clashes between
Muslim and Christian youths.
The year 2011 Christmas was also bloody as Boko Haram carried
out numerous bomb attacks across Nigeria on Christmas Day, three of which
targeted churches, including one at Madalla, near Abuja that killed at least 44
people and wounded 57 others. The blast at St Theresa’s Church in Madalla also
killed several people on the street and pulled down the church roof, condemning
many of those trapped inside the burning building, including a seven-month-old
boy.
This
year, 2012, it was another tragic Christmas in Piri community of Potiskum, Yobe
State as the same Boko Haram gunmen burst in to the local
branch of the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) at midnight through a back door, opening fire on the
worshipers killing five, including the pastor, and injuring a number of
others. They also burnt down the church and houses of
Christians living in the area.
A development that Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor,
President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN), described as “…highly
disturbing, very barbaric and archaic.” In his words, “It is totally against
God and anything that has to do with Him. You wonder how people will go to this
extent in the name of God. “Let us not continue to deny that there are
jihadists, extremists and Islamists in this country. They are here. Let us
agree that it is time for us to take certain steps to bring this madness to an
end.”
This annual Christmas gifts of
tears, sorrow and blood from Boko Haram that usually leave many Christians dead
and the entire Christian community in Nigeria wallowing in hardships,
devastations and pains is highly condemnable. It is time for the President
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan led administration to sum up the required political
will to address this annual evil once and for all.
As we celebrate the New Year,
Christians in northern Nigeria are advised to be careful and watch out for
warning signs and suspicious behavior. While the armed forces and law
enforcements are doing everything to defend and protect you, you must do your
part. Take safety precautions to protect yourself, family and home serious. Be
security conscious and alert. You are your best security!