I read with dismay, the brutality of the Nigeria Army towards the Shiite Islamic sect and the senseless killing of innocent Nigerians. As I write this piece, it is as if it happened in a dream. My question therefore, is: Why would people be so brutal? We are not in a military regime. And if this is happening under a popularly elected democratic government, then where are we heading to? Even in a military regime, such should not happen.

Must they die just like that, for blocking a public road? Does the road belong to any man? Does it belong to the army? Let us even think about it, do you know why they blocked the road? If the Chief of Army Staff did not go to where he planned, heaven will not fall. Or, did they plan to eliminate them? If he claims not to know, then why was he so brutal? And should he claim to know, then the military planned the ugly incident, and they must face the consequences.

If the Chief of Army Staff did not have skeletons in his cupboard, why did he allow fear to get hold of him so much that he committed so great an evil? Mass arrest of the leaders later on would have served as a lesson, but not going as far engaging in what has become our evil leaders’ penchant to shed the blood of Nigerians as if they they’re eating bread.

If the Army Chief had acted wisely and responsibly, this nauseating encounter would not have occurred in the first place. Have any of the soldiers created an insect or an animal? If the answer is no, why then must they keep shedding blood of humans created in the image of God? What will make a trained policeman, soldier or even a vigilante to open fire at unarmed civilians, if not insanity of the highest order? So many innocent Nigerians have been sent to their early graves through this process of extra-judicial killing, and we look on as if it is normal. This must not continue for long. As far as I am concerned, the Chief of Army Staff and his trigger-happy officers and men should be summarily dismissed. Do not get me wrong. It is not that I support what they did by blocking the road, but let us say the truth for: they do not deserve to die the way they did. You killed them like animals. For God’s sake, it is not acceptable! If the Chief of Army Staff was not drunk with power, just as it is characteristic of Nigerian leaders who always take the masses for granted, it could have been avoided.

Our military has shown that they are the real enemies of Nigerians. They are very lawless, insane and blood thirsty. If they are not careful, a day will come that they will be caught unawares. I have kept asking, and will continue till the cow-ears of our leaders are changed to human ears. The question is: Are we in a democratic government or that of the military?

The Biafran protesters have been unjustly killed, and every warning given to the police and military has fallen on deaf ears. Till now, many of them are still being killed. Our leaders feel they do not have a voice; but God is their voice. And now, the Shiites have had their share of the brutality. No one knows the group or community that will next fall into the hands of these vampires. Everyone has to watch out. Let us not forget: No evil doer will go unpunished.

Let there be genuine investigation into the Shiite Islamic cult killings. After killing the Shiite guys, they start showing an edited film that has filtered away their insane acts. God will descend on them soon. They can’t escape judgment.

Talking about investigation, it is important to note that in the past we have heard of several enquiries that ended up as comics that were only acting out a script. This time around, any form of lies will not be accepted. Nigerians are wiser now, and the world at large is equally attentive, because of the mentality of our military and politicians. My problem with the Nigerian Government has always been corruption and abnormal desire for blood-shed. This must stop! I pray that God will come into the situation, because heartless men are destroying his creatures.

A weak man is not a man that has no physical ability to defend himself. Actually speaking, a weak man is a man who fights with weapons, rifles, explosives or any weapon for that matter. In a way, that means our police force and army are also weak. And who, in his normal senses, will appreciate a weak force? Fela of blessed memory called the military zombie in his album, and the military destroyed ‘Kalakuta Republic.’ But in actual fact, what he sang was true. They reason one way. Actually speaking, the Nigeria military has lost its dignity. With their uniforms found with different armed robbers and Islamic insurgents terrorising the people they are meant to protect, they have lost their dignity. If they feel it is not true, I suggest they carry a dictionary and read the meaning of integrity. They have none. Day in day out the Nigerian people are being provoked to violence, which I am very sure the military and our leaders may not be able to curtail when it starts.

When the leaders keep on butchering the people, are they expecting them to continue dying like chicken and keep mum? For God’s sake, we are not in a battlefield! A time will come when foreigners will no longer be willing to tolerate our leaders in their midst, and they will be sent packing back to where they have looted, killed the people and destroyed. Nigerian leaders are dancing naked; that is why no matter how highly placed a leader is, the value is absent.. The youths have to stand up and shake off every evil leader in other that their future would not be mortgaged. The Nigeria Army and Police should stop their crazy killings now. Enough is enough.

Counsel

Repent from your sins before it is too late; now that our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, is calling you. In Proverbs 16:25, the Bible says there is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. God hates oppression of any kind. Oppression is forbidden by God: Ex 22: 22-24 “....if thou afflict them in any wise and they cry out unto me, I will surely hear their cry.…” Lev 25: 14 “…ye shall not oppress one another.” Beloved are we following it?

Ps12.5; 62.10: “For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now I will arise said the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that oppress him.” Pro 14.31: “He that oppressed the poor reproacheth his maker; 22.16: “He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches and he that giveth to the rich shall surely come to want.” Eccl 4.1: “So I returned and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power, but had no comforter.” Eccl 5.8: “If thou seest the oppression of the poor and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter, for he that is higher than the highest regardeth, and there be another higher than they.” One could go on and on to cite scriptures in which God expresses his opposition and anger towards injustice, oppression and intimidation of the poor and down-trodden. Unfortunately, such is almost an everyday experience in our country. And our leaders, despite their religious inclinations, forget that scriptures such as James chapter 5 verse 4, which expressly states that the cries of the people you raped have gone to God - and Jeremiah 22.17 which charges – “You the oppressor, your eyes are for covetousness and to shed innocent blood; you are for violence: God hates oppression and violence - bears relevance to the Nigerian society.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments. For this is the whole duty of man. For, God shall bring every work into judgment, with every thought, whether it be good or evil. A word is enough for the wise.

•Missionary Lovina Amangala Iburene, whose photo appears alongside this piece, is of The Truth Ministry of Christ Bringing The Truth That Frees (Public/Internet Ministries), Nigeria; 08066350994, 08135907006, 08177358063.

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