Resisting Shari'a in Nigeria

Nigeria is a country of contrasts and conflict. Like Sudan, Nigeria has a Muslim north and a Christian south. However, unlike Sudan, in Nigeria it is the Christians who are the majority.

Just as Sudan is the largest country (2,503 890 square kilometres) in Africa, so Nigeria is the largest nation (120 million people in 490 ethnic groups). In fact, Nigeria has more Christians, and more Muslims, than any other country in Africa.

CHRISTIANS PERSECUTED

A muslim woman walks past the ruins of a church building wrecked by Muslim mobs

Christians have been severely persecuted in Nigeria's northern states. Literally hundreds of churches have been destroyed and thousands of Christians murdered in recent years. One popular book, which is widely circulated amongst the Muslims in Nigeria, declares: "Priests in their churches ... should of course be killed without any exception … they should not build a church, nor leave one standing in an area controlled by the Muslims, if it is Muslim by force. Christians should not be allowed to hinder Muslims from being accommodated at their churches day or night. Gongs and bells should be hidden, no religious rights should be public. Christians should not display their religious convictions openly … we are absolutely certain about declaring a person to be a kafir who belies or denies any of the foundations of the Shari'a or anything that is known by certainty to have been a deed by The Messenger …" The Sign of the Sword (1984) by Shaykh Abdalqadir Al-Murabit.

THE ISLAMIC AGENDA

Also well circulated in Nigeria is The Programme adopted by the World Islamic Organisation at a conference, in 1974, in Mecca:

a. Muslim organisations should set up centres to resist Christian missionary activities. b. Islamic radio and TV stations should be established. c. All Christian activities, no matter the secular expression, should be stopped. d. Christian hospitals, orphanages, schools and universities should be taken over. e. Muslim organisations should set up Intelligence Centres about Christian activities. f. All Christian literature should be banned in Muslim countries. 1975, when General Murtala Muhammed overthrew General Yakubu Gowon, was the beginning of the implementation of this programme in Nigeria. Many streets bearing Christian names were changed to Muslim names. Christian schools and hospitals were taken over by the state. Arabic inscriptions and emblems began to appear on Nigeria's currency notes and on emblems of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The Grand Mosque in the Capital, Abuja. Built with Mid-East oil money the done is gold plated.

The Chairman of the Bureau for Islamic Propagation, Bashir Othman Tofa (a presidential candidate) declared: "… these dangerous devils calling themselves Christians … we Muslims cannot sacrifice our religion or our self-respect for any type of peaceful co-existence … it is time to begin the offensive … let us begin by proclaiming Friday as our Sabbath … do away with the Christian Red Cross symbol … let us found our own Islamic Jihad of Nigeria to counteract the evil machinations of the Christian Association of Nigeria. Let us act right now!!!"

"ALL THE CHRISTIANS MUST BE SHOT"

The Muslim Brothers issued this statement which declared as their objective: "The establishment of the Shari'a of Allah and the destruction of Kafir from the face of the earth … it is this Kafir system which gives these slaves (Christians)… It puts them on same level, it even raised the Christians higher than the Muslims … it is also necessary that we rise and destroy oppressors and the Kafir system … Ulamas should rise up and take the lead for the annihilation of Kafir … oh we are tired of Kafir system of government, Jewish Laws and decrees, and the rest acts of worship of Christianity on us … all the Christians …. must be brought out to public and be shot. From now on, Thursdays and Fridays must be work-free days … 'fight them until there remains no tumult (fitna) on the face of the earth and religion (way of life) becomes for Allah alone'. Qur'an"

CHURCHES BURNED, CHRISTIANS MURDERED

During my recent ministry trip to Nigeria, I visited Lagos, Jos, Gboko and Abuja. I was shown numerous churches that had been damaged, vandalised or burned down by Muslim mobs. And I received many heart-rending reports of Christians murdered by Muslims. Many Christians bear the physical marks of bullet wounds, scars from machete wounds, cut off hands or feet, burns and deep slash marks on their necks and heads, inflicted by violent Muslim mobs. Twelve northern states in Nigeria have proclaimed Shari'a Law. Literally hundreds of churches have been destroyed and thousands of believers murdered in Kaduna, Gombe, Sokoto, Kano and Bauchi. Central states, which are overwhelmingly Christian, have also borne the brunt of waves of Islamic Jihad. Thousands of Christians have been killed in Jos and Gboko, although the Christians in these areas have stood firm and resisted the Muslim offensives.

One of the hundreds of Churches that were burned down by Muslim mobs in the past two years.

AFRICA'S LARGEST NATION

A MIG monument outside an airforce base.

Nigeria is a huge country (923 768 Km2). The geography varies from the lush mangrove and tropical rainforests in the south to the savannah and grasslands in the north. Two huge rivers flow across the country - the Niger and the Benue. Nigeria has over 120 million people in 490 ethnic groups. The three largest tribes are: the Hausa/Fulani, the Yoruba and Igbo. Literacy is officially 64%. The official language of Nigeria is English, although Hausa is widely used in the northern states. Nigeria is potentially rich in agricultural land and mineral resources, with large oil reserves. The enormous oil wealth of Nigeria has been squandered and embezzled by a series of corrupt rulers. Over 34% of the population live below the poverty line and unemployment is officially 28%.

MISSIONARY HERITAGE

Britain came to be involved in Nigeria primarily in order to crush the slave trade. Missionaries such as Mary Slessor and Samuel Crowther worked tirelessly to eradicate the slave trade, the killing of twins and other social evils. Samuel Crowther was a Yorubu who was captured by slave raiders and sold to Portuguese slave traders for transport across the Atlantic. Crowther was rescued by a British Naval squadron and received education in Sierra Leone and England. He was ordained by the Church of England and sent back to Yorubaland as a missionary. Crowther became the first African bishop of the Church of England.

Samuel Crowther

Mary Slessor

TURBULENT TIMES

There was great optimism for the future when Nigeria received its independence from Britain in 1960. However, the post-independence history has been turbulent, with a vicious civil war, during which millions of Christian Igbo's were starved or slaughtered by Federal forces. A succession of military coups, generally by Muslims, destroyed what was left of the post- independence optimism.

The sudden death of the brutal Muslim military dictator, Abacha, in 1998, brought General Olusegun Obasanjo, a committed Christian (converted while in prison in Jos), to the presidency. He has promised to eradicate corruption and bring about change, but there is great impatience and frustration at the pace and extent of the changes so far.

A concerted attempt by Muslim candidates to gain control in this first free election in the country's history ended with an overwhelming electoral victory for Obasanjo, and defeat for the Muslims.

SPECTACULAR CHURCH GROWTH Amidst all the tensions, violence, coups and civil war, the churches in Nigeria have experienced spectacular growth. The Anglicans have grown from 900 000 in 1960 to over 12 million. SIM's work, which began at such great cost a century ago, has resulted in a dynamic church, ECWA (Evangelical Church of West Africa), with almost 5 million people. Evangelicals as a whole have grown from 2 million in 1960 to 28 million. The Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship, with over 800 chapters, has had a significant impact on the commercial world. Many Muslims have come to Christ despite death threats, discrimination and ostracism. However, while there have been many successful evangelistic crusades, the widespread evangelism is seldom followed up with discipleship and Bible teaching. There has often been an over-emphasis on material prosperity, extravagance and sensationalism. There is a tremendous need for more Leadership Training and Bible Colleges.

In Jos where over 30 Churches were burned, Peter presented a Muslim Evangelism Workshop and a Reformation Seminar.

GREAT NEEDS, GREAT OPPORTUNITIES

Literature is highly sought after, but in very short supply. There are over 300 Christian bookshops in Nigeria, but stocks are severely limited by the price and lack of foreign exchange. The economic situation and poverty of most Christians place frustrating limitations on book availability and sales.

There is a great potential for Christian radio ministry in Nigeria. Over 85% of the population have a short-wave radio receiver and even more have access to FM. However, while both local and international radio broadcasts are used by Christians, the government has yet to allow an establishment of a Christian radio station inside Nigeria.

Although alcohol is outlawed under Sharia law, here, just a stone's throw from a mosque in a Muslim area, a mountain of beer crates piles up.

The church in Nigeria has become a significant missionary sending force. There are about 600 Nigerian missionaries serving in other lands, and thousands of Nigerian missionaries working within Nigeria, crossing linguistic and religious barriers to plant the Gospel in other communities. There are over 160 Bible Colleges and Theological Seminaries in Nigeria, however, most of these desperately need more quality Christian textbooks and qualified lecturers. The government-controlled schools make provision for religious education. There are 15 000 Christian Religious Knowledge teachers in the state schools. They have great opportunities, but very limited resources. Many hundreds of Christian schools have been launched by local churches, however, most of these use secular textbooks. There is a tremendous need for Christian school textbooks and Biblical Worldview training for Christian teachers.

In fact, it was the need for Christian textbooks and Leadership Training that led to my ministry trip to Nigeria.

A MACEDONIAN CALL

Lahadi and James Dem'Shakwa, who founded Mount Carmel Christian School in Jos, contacted Christian Liberty Academy in the USA who put them in touch with us. Lahadi, who came to South Africa and completed the Great Commission Course, insisted that I had to visit Nigeria and present Muslim Evangelism Workshops, Biblical Worldview Seminars and Reformation Conferences there.

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

Despite difficulties in obtaining the required visa, and other complications, by God's grace and in answer to the prayers of many, I finally made it to a warm welcome in Nigeria.

THE FREE MARKET IN NIGERIA

My first impressions of Nigeria were of dozens of moneychangers with huge wads of notes swarming around me, offering to change Dollars, Pounds or Rands for Naira. Even late at night, the dark streets were lined with street vendors selling a bewildering array of goods and services by oil light. Hordes of 50 cc motorcycles and scooters, generally ridden by riders and passengers without helmets, weaved perilously fast between the fast-flowing battered vehicles and 3-wheeled taxis. The street vendors sold computers, photocopiers, laminators, satellite dishes, DVD and video machines and a wide range of other goods right on the sidewalk. DRIVING ON THE OTHER SIDE There were lots of army and police roadblocks, and many people dressed in Muslim robes. The heat was stifling and humid in Lagos, and I was soon pouring with sweat. Numerous mosques and churches were surrounded by street vendors.

Travel in Nigeria involves passing through many military checkpoints.

Surprisingly, we were driving on the right-hand side of the road. Most of English-speaking Africa drive on the left. However, shortly after Independence, Nigeria decided to follow the practice of (French speaking) West Africa and the Arab nations by driving on the right.

Sometimes I was alarmed by the number of motorbikes driving towards us on the wrong side of the road - even on dual carriage ways - just to make their turn off quicker!

The dusty, crowded and pot-holed roads were incredible scenes of frantic speeding by a fascinating variety of vehicles. I was astonished to see even babies transported on motorbikes, sometimes just strapped to the mother's back by a blanket or towel. I saw one horrifying accident as a motorcyclist hit a young girl. I also saw lots of evidence of accidents along the side of the road: a petrol tanker rolled, huge 18-wheelers lying on their side, the cargo spilled over the roadside, pick-up trucks rolled, cars smashed and a burned-out truck on the main road.

MARKET PLACE AIRPORTS

Another first impression was the market place atmosphere in the airport terminals, with hordes of "helpers" giving advice as to which airline to use and offering all kinds of services.

Also surprising was how the check-in counters were barricaded behind solid bars, stretching from floor to ceiling. Behind these zoo-like bars, which would have been strong enough to keep an elephant out, were the check-in counters for a variety of airlines. I was told that one did not make prior bookings for internal flights, it was like boarding a bus.

Also surprising was when my host advised me to book on a 4pm flight, when it was already 4:15pm! "No problem, it hasn't even started boarding yet!" Sure enough, I made the 4pm flight, which departed at 5pm.

Security at the airport was also erratic. Sometimes the x-ray machines were faulty. On those occasions I was just waved through without even a hand-search of carry-on baggage.

CONTRASTS AND QUEUES IN AN OIL RICH COUNTRY There was a sharp contrast between the palatial residences, off tree-lined streets, of government officials and squalid shacks of the over-crowded shantytowns surrounding the city centres. I was surprised to find long petrol queues outside the fuel stations, especially as Nigeria is an oil-producing state - producing the 6th highest volume of oil in the world. Yet, its citizens regularly have to queue up to obtain their oil, and there is a flourishing industry of entrepreneurs selling 5, 10 and 20 litre containers of petrol by the roadside - at greatly inflated prices of course. (sometimes up to five times the fixed rate). But for those who want to avoid the queues or are in too much of a hurry to wait in line, there is generally no alternative.

Despite Nigeria being the sixth largest oil producing country in the world, Nigerians have to queue to obtain their fuel.

MASSACRES BY MUSLIM MOBS

Christians in Jos told me how Muslims attacked and beat to death a pregnant Christian woman during their Friday prayer services. According to the Muslims, the woman had walked past the men during their Friday prayer time. So they beat her to death. The Muslims then went on the rampage down the main road in Jos, burning Christian businesses, churches and homes. The next day the Christians rallied together and stood firm to resist the Muslim attacks. "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses." Nehemiah 4:14 DYNAMIC CHURCHES Driving across Nigeria one is struck by the wide variety and vast quantity of churches. The names of the various congregations also give one an insight into the dynamic and innovative faith of the Nigerians: "Deeper-life Bible Church", "Evangelical Church of West Africa", "Full Gospel Church", "Victory Faith Church", "Grace and Truth Tabernacle", "The Triumphant Church", "Living Faith Winners Chapel", "Throne Voice of Power", "Redeemed People", "Watchmen Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement", "Solid Rock Fellowship", "Full Anointed Gospel Power Church", "Power Revival Ministries" and so many others. In every community I visited, I saw numerous church buildings under construction.

The Christian Churches in Nigeria are dynamic and everywhere one sees signs of growth and new buildings under construction.

Each church I visited was well organised, with the presentations being audio & video taped, with the audio & video tapes available, on sale, before the end of the day.

There was a real intensity in the times of prayer and worship. Services were normally long. One meeting in Gboko went on for six hours without a break. I found the churches in Nigeria to have strong evangelistic concern and missionary vision.

SUPPORTING TYRANTS

There was also a growing social concern, with many expressing their frustration and disappointment that their government was not standing with the suffering people of Zimbabwe, but rather supporting the dictator, Mugabe.

It was remembered that previous Nigerian governments had supported other tyrants such as Idi Amin who, while Chairman of the Organisation of Africa Unity, was massacring Christians in his country. It was remembered that even though only 6% of the population of Uganda were Muslims, Idi Amin declared Islam the official religion of Uganda. Many hundreds of thousands of Christians were murdered under Idi Amin's brutal regime - yet most African leaders remained silent about the Ugandan Holocaust.

"Cease to do evil; Learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow." Isaiah 1:17
Similarly, during Mengistu's Red Terror in Ethiopia, Samora Machel's persecution of the Church in Mozambique and Augestino Neto's reign of terror in Angola, these tyrants were well received and supported throughout Africa, including in Nigeria.

The Christians I spoke to were disturbed about the silence on Mugabe's racism and lawlessness. "This is a disgrace and a disaster for Africa. While Mugabe is destroying agriculture and ruining the economy, he is also killing tourism and chasing away investment - not only for Zimbabwe but for all Africa."

"Hate evil, love good; establish justice in the gate." Amos 5:15

SLAUGHTER UNDER SHARI'A Of greatest concern to the Nigerian Christians that I had fellowship with, was the threat of Shari'a Law from the Muslims. In Jos, on 7th September 2001, during Friday afternoon prayers, a Muslim mob beat a pregnant Christian woman to death. They claimed that she had walked past them while they were bowed in prayer, outside the Mosque. In rage, they got up from their prayer mats and savagely beat her, killing both the woman and her pre-born child. Not satisfied with this innocent blood, the Muslims then went on the rampage down the main street in Jos, burning churches, shops and homes. Many hundreds of Christians were beaten, shot or hacked to death by these Muslim mobs.

The Gospel was first established among the Tiv people by South African reformed missionaries in 1903. For the past 100 years the Tiv have resisted Islam.

RESISTANCE IN JOS

The next day, the Christians rallied and stood firm together, resisting the Islamic attacks. More Christians poured in from the surrounding villages, some wearing traditional warrior regalia and brandishing spears, axes and machetes. Vicious hand-to-hand fighting took place on the streets, and many firearms were captured from the Muslims. Some Christians counter-attacked and by the end of the week, over 6000 people had been killed. The Muslims were completely defeated and many were fleeing north. Throughout this conflict the police and army were unseen - barricaded in their barracks.

Upon investigation, it was revealed that the Muslim community had been planning this attack for many months, stockpiling weapons and ammunition. They were looking for a pretext to trigger their assault. The Christian woman walking past the Mosque was seized as an ideal opportunity for them to initiate their attack. What they had not expected was such fierce resistance from the Christians. Many Muslims said that they had never expected the Christians to fight back.

The Christians in Jos related to me numerous examples of the Lord's protection, in answer to prayer. A truck carrying weapons for Muslims crashed outside Jos, spilling and revealing a weapons cache. There have been numerous other Muslim plots which have been exposed.

CHRISTIAN COURAGE IN GBOKO In Gboko, the Tiv people related to me testimonies of how the Muslim Hausa and Fulani people attacked their homes and churches, burning down entire communities. When the Federal forces were sent in to restore order, they burned even more farms and houses. The units sent were predominantly Muslim and under Muslim control, so rather than restoring order, they joined in the assaults against the Christians, massacring whole villages. In Vaase, 1 200 civilians were killed by these Muslim Federal forces. In Taraba state, up to 100 churches were destroyed by Muslim mobs. The long-suffering Tiv people also rose up and resisted, fighting back. All this happened in August and September 2002. Over 80% of the schools in Tivland are owned by the churches. However, none have a Christian curriculum. There is a desperate need for Christian textbooks.

Peter conducted a Muslim Evangelism Workshop here in Gboko where many Christians have been killed by Muslim militants.

PRAYER AND PRESSURE

In the weeks leading up to my ministry trip to Nigeria, numerous reports came across my desk of violence against Christians in Nigeria and the volatile situation surrounding the first presidential elections.

There were numerous delays in issuing my visa. As the day of departure drew ever nearer, and as the Nigerian Embassy remained unresponsive, we were informed that a Muslim official was controlling the visa department.

More prayer and pressure was mobilised. But the embassy failed to return my passport and visa in time. Nor were the airline willing to transport me without the visa, as the Nigerian government imposes stiff penalties for anyone who comes to the nation without the visa previously approved.

By God's grace and in response to much prayer and pressure, I finally received the necessary visa and passport two days late, necessitating a whole series of rearrangements by our hosts in Nigeria in order to change the dates for the seminars.

The Muslim candidate for the first ever presidential elections, Buhari, was soundly defeated.

WARM WELCOME, WORSHIP AND THE WORD

I was most impressed with the warm hospitality of our hosts in Nigeria and their enthusiasm for worship and the Word. I conducted a Muslim Evangelism Workshop and Reformation Conference in Jos, as well as presenting Leadership Training at Mount Carmel Christian School and ministering on the state radio. In Gboko, I was able to present another Muslim Evangelism Workshop in the community centre. All in all, I delivered 20 different Power Point presentations, in addition to sermons, radio and film evangelism. NIGERIA CHRISTIAN ACTION After the Reformation Conference, the pastors and teachers present determined to form a Nigerian Christian Action and plans are already being made for conducting Biblical Worldview Seminars, Summits, Muslim Evangelism Workshops and Great Commission Courses in Nigeria.

One of the Churches where Peter was invited to conduct a Muslim Evangelism Workshop.

BETWEEN CROSS AND CRESCENT

Despite the stresses of continual Islamic pressure and persecution, the mature and dynamic Church in Nigeria is standing firm and reaching out vigorously to its Muslim neighbours. The conflict between the Cross and the Crescent in Nigeria is intensifying. Muslim nations are pouring in vast millions to fund the construction of Mosques, Madressas, Muslim schools and to promote Shari'a Law throughout Nigeria. The Christians are responding by establishing more churches, and Christian schools and through literature and radio ministry. They need our encouragement, prayers and support. We have the opportunity in Nigeria to not only help the Christians stand firm and resist the Southern encroachments of Islam, but also to roll back the Islamic offensive, winning their enemies to Christ. "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the Harvest therefore to send out workers into His harvest field." Matthew 9:37

Some of the teachers and staff of the Mount Carmel Christian School. Pray for the Christians in Nigeria.

Peter Hammond

CHRISTIAN TEXTBOOKS

As an indigenous African mission dedicated to fulfilling the Great Commission in restricted access areas, Frontline Fellowship seeks to fulfil the Great Commission comprehensively – by ministering to body, mind and spirit. This involves supporting the three pillars of missions: schools – for the mind, medical clinics – for the body, and churches – for the spirit.

Our priorities are literature, leadership training and love in action. Along with delivering food, agricultural tools, seed and medicines as part of our love in action ministry, Frontline Fellowship conducts intensive leadership training courses for pastors, teachers, chaplains, evangelists and medics, and we deliver many tonnes of Bibles, Hymn books, Sunday School materials and Christian textbooks.

By God’s grace, Frontline Fellowship is involved in delivering 5 000 Christian textbooks to 100 schools in Sudan. These textbooks are going to the over 650 teachers which we have provided regular leadership training for.

Now, we are trusting the Lord for the sponsorship necessary to be able to supply thousands of Christian textbooks for Christian schools in Zambia and Nigeria.

In order to help the many pastors and teachers who are establishing community Christian schools to provide alternatives to the humanist government schools and Muslim education of the Madressas, Christian Liberty Press in Chicago has offered to provide us with their textbooks at cost. This means that for an average of $2 per textbook, we can supply dedicated Christian teachers in Zambia and Nigeria with Bible-based school textbooks. These will be studied and focused on in the classrooms, month by month, put up on the blackboard, notes taken from them, assignments and exams written on them. Christian textbooks are great tools for on-going discipleship in Africa.

Over the years Frontline Fellowship has had the privilege of delivering and distributing hundreds of thousands of Bibles in restricted access areas in Africa, particularly into communist Mozambique and Angola and Islamic Sudan. Now we believe that, as Christian schools multiply in these mission fields, one of the most strategic things we can do is supply them with great Christian school textbooks.

We are also seeking to increase our supplying of doctrinal books and Bible study aids for pastors, evangelists and Bible College libraries throughout Africa.

Any help that you can offer in these most worthy and strategic projects will be greatly appreciated.

Peter Hammond

Write to Frontline Fellowship,
PO Box 74, Newlands, 7725,
Cape Town, South Africa, or
e-mail: admin@frontline.org.za

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