By Okechukwu Ukegbu
Several legal instruments promote the sanctity of human life and right to freedom of religion. Section 33 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, (as amended) stipulates that “every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in the execution of of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria. Also section 38 of the constitution stipulates that”every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom (either alone or in community with others, and in public or in private) to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance”. Also Article 4 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights promotes the right to life and Article 8 talks about the right to freedom of conscience, and free practice of religion.
Sadly, recent events in the country have negated the provisions of these legal instruments which uphold the sanctity of human life. One of such events is the gruesome murder of a female evangelist, Eunice Olawale in Abuja. Mrs. Olawale (42) and mother of seven, was reportedly waylaid during her early morning evangelism routine by criminals, who are suspected to be religious fanatics, who were alleged to have threatened her before over her preaching.
While the killing has generated widespread condemnation, the worrisome aspect of the tragedy is that religious intolerance is spreading to many parts of the country, including as the Federal Capital Territory, beyond the North where such episode is reportedly commonplace.
Mrs. Olawale’s fatal fate came on the heels of the brutal murder of a 74-year-old, Blessing Agbahime by a Muslim mob in Kano for alleged blasphemy. Before now, ethno-religious killings and conflicts were a constant occurrence in our national life. Recently, three Christians were killed in Niger State, while a carpenter was reportedly battered to near death in Kaduna for religious reasons. According to reports, armed mobs attacked two churches in Gidan Waya and Sondi villages in Taraba State, killing 31 worshippers in 2015. Also, World Watch’s report allegedly liked the killing of 12,000 and the destruction of 13,000 churches in Northern Nigeria between 2000 and 2013 to hate attacks.
On May 1, 1980, there were disturbances in Zaria during which property belonging to Christians were destroyed. In December 1980, a riot spearheaded by the deadly sect, Maitatsine in Yan- Awaku ward, Kano State claimed 118 lives and property were damaged. The Kala- Kato and Maitatsine clash in Bullumkutu Maiduguri, Borno State in October 1982 claimed scores of lives and wanton destruction of property. During the time under review, Muslim demonstrators allegedly burnt down churches in Kano.
At Dobeli ward in Gombe in the first quarter of 1984, a crisis reportedly spearheaded by the Maitatsine sect claimed about 568 lives and wanton destruction of property. In March 1986, Muslims and Christians clashed during an Easter procession by Christians. There were also clashes between Muslims and Christians in March 1987 at College of Education, Kafanchan, Kaduna State. In the same vein, waves of religious riots in different locations in Kaduna in the same March 1987 witnessed loss of lives and destruction of property. Religious riots among students at Kaduna Polytechnic in 1988 resulted to the destruction of the foundation wall of the Christian Chapel.
It will recalled that a quarrel between a Fulani man and meat seller in Tafewa Balewa, Bauchi State in 1991 later assumed a religious colouration, resulting in wanton destruction of property and loss of lives. A peaceful protest by the Izala sect in 1991 to halt Rev. Reinhard Bonnke’s crusade in Kano snowballed into a full-blown riot resulting to wanton destruction of property and lives .In May 1992, in Zangon Kataf, Kaduna State, a feud between the Kataf and Hausas later assumed Muslim- Christian riot in other major cities of the state which resulted in destruction of lives and property.
In December 1994, a Christian was reportedly beheaded in Kano for allegedly desecrating the Quran. A clash between the Hausas and Igbos in Kano in1995 also led to burning of houses, churches, shops, and the killing of innocent people. In February 2000, Kaduna exploded in conflagration as Muslim and Christian extremists clashed over the proposal to introduce Sharia.
The list of religious conflicts which have claimed wanton property and lives in the Nigerian history is inexhaustible. Very often, Nigerians are treated to gory sights of murder with religious undertones. It will not be out of place to suggest that Nigeria’s unity is on the precipice considering the geometric progression of these religious hate crimes.
A non-profit organisation in its 2016 World Watch ranking highlights that Christians are persecuted on a scale, ranging from extreme, severe and moderate to sparse. The report rated Nigeria 12th out of 50 countries. The ranking is not only embarrassing but terrible. Our Constitution guarantees that” the Government of the Federation or any State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion”. The timing of these religious-related killings is ill-conceived in view of the activities of the Fulani herdsmen who are currently rampaging several locations in the country. These spectacles become worrisome in the face of the insurgency in the North East which has adversely affected the progress of the country.
Indeed, these times call for concerted efforts. All hands should on deck. It also calls for the strengthening of our institutions. There are several unresolved murders in the country, and the current situation should go beyond the usual mantra of “bringing the perpetrators to book” to concrete actions. There should be a collaborative effort among the security agencies, the media, and other stakeholders to end this.
*Ukegbu writes from Umuahia, Abia State