By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has called for the arrest of immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, other aiders and abettors and their trial at ICC over “the Southern Kaduna/Middle-Belt butcheries”.

The group made the call in a statement it tagged “Farewell Gifts To Buhari, Ors: 700 Christians Slaughtered In May 1, 100 in 60Days, And 2,150 in 160 Dsys of 2023”, which was made available to News Express on Monday.

It also said that a total of 100 churches were wantonly attacked in 60 days and 600 Synagogues and 1000 Traditional Sanctuaries lost in the East since 2021, even as it added that 53,350 Christians were slaughtered since 2009 Islamic uprising and 18,100 churches and 2,200 schools wantonly burned down

It said: “31,350 Christians hacked to death in eight radical Islamist years of Buhari and El-Rufai and ors, over 200 pastors attacked Jihadists sacked 1000 Christian communities: Benue lost 400, Kaduna 245, Plateau200, Taraba100, South-East 60 and ors.”

Intersociety maintained that Nigerian radical Islamic leaders who marked the end of their civilian office tenures on 29th May 2023 were wished “farewell” by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen who marked the end of their office tenures by slaughtering not less than 700 defenseless Christians in May 2023 (month of handover).

Giving a detailed view of its investigation, Intersociety alleged that not less than 300 Christians were slaughtered in Plateau State (Mangu county, etc) between 15th and 17th May 2023 alone.

It described Benue State as the second worst state where not less than 110 Christians were slaughtered in the early part of May to June 2023, including 40 slaughtered between 3rd and 4th June 2023, 18 defenseless Christians hacked to death on 21st May 2023 as well as 28 others slaughtered between 7th and 10th May 2023.

The group noted that in all, Benue State accounted for over 190 Christian deaths between 12th April and 12th June 2023.

The report which was signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi, Board chairman of the group,Chidinma Udegbunam, Esq, Intersociety's Head, Campaign and Publicity Department, among others, partly reads: “The third worst hit State is Kaduna where not less than 100 Christians were slaughtered between 12th April and 12th June 2023.

“The out-gone Government of Kaduna State-backed killing of Christians as “farewell gifts” had included slaughtering of 33 Christians by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen on 15th April 2023 in Runji village in Atyap, Zango Kataf LGA of Kaduna State, during which 42 houses were burned down or destroyed. Between March and April 2023, not less than 68 Christians were slaughtered in Atyap Land alone; with less than 10 Christian school children abducted on 4th April from Government Secondary School Avon in Kachia LGA of Kaduna State who were taken into Jihadists’ captivity.

“According to the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ Union (SOKAPU), not less than 245 Southern Kaduna communities have been sacked and violently occupied by Fulani Terror Jihadists in six years (2017-2023). In Nassarawa State, no fewer than 38 Christian residents of Takalafia and Gwanja communities in the Karu Local Government Area of the State were hacked to death by terror herdsmen who stormed the area on Thursday night (14th May 2023).

“Not less than 1,100 defenseless Christians were hacked to death by Nigerian Government backed Islamic Jihadists in the past 60 days or between 12th April and 12thJune 2023; translating to daily average of 17 Christian deaths. The period under review also represents one of the bloodiest in anti Christian attacks in Nigeria.

“The breakdown of the 1,100 Christian deaths in 60 days (12th April-12th June 2023) shows that Plateau State is the worst hit with 350 Christian deaths, followed by Benue with 200 deaths, Kaduna 100 deaths, Nassarawa 62 deaths, Niger 50 deaths and ethnically and religiously related killings by the Police and Military personnel in the East 50 deaths.

“Others are Borno/Yobe with 40 Christian deaths, Taraba 40 deaths, Kebbi 20 deaths, South-West 20 deaths, South-East 20 deaths, Adamawa 10 deaths, South-South 10 deaths and FCT 10 Christian deaths. There are also 200 Christian deaths representing “dark figures of crimes” including over 80 Christian deaths omitted in places like Kaduna State, covering 1st January to 10th April 2023 and 10% (70 deaths) of the 700 abductees representing those abducted who are incapable of returning to their families alive.

“Also In two months gone by, not less than 700 Christians were abducted in Kaduna, Niger, Borno, Taraba, Yobe, Adamawa, Benue, Plateau, Kebbi, Nassarawa, Edo, Osun, Kwara, Kogi, FCT, Ondo, Delta, Enugu, Anambra and Abia States. In the 1,100 defenseless Christian deaths, Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen accounted for not less than 800 killings.”

Intersociety recalled that in its “Mother Report” of April 10 2023, it disclosed that 1,041 defenseless Christians were hacked to death in Nigeria in the first 100 days of 2023 or 1st Jan to 10th April 2023.

According to the group, it has been investigated and found that a total of not less than 2,150 defenseless Christians have been slaughtered by non-state actor/Nigerian Government-backed Islamic Jihadists in the past 160 days or 1st Jan to 12th June 2023.

It added: “Over 1,400 others were abducted; out of which 10% or 140 may be incapable of returning to their families alive. Kaduna State top the list of the abducted with at least 700, followed by Niger State with 300.

“Available statistics showed that Nigerian Government protected Jihadists and its Jihad enabler security forces have sacked 1,000 Christian communities since 2016 and aided and abetted their takeover and occupation by the Jihadists; out of which, Benue State lost 400 Christian communities, Kaduna 245, Plateau 200, Taraba 100 and South-East 60. Christian communities have also been uprooted in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kogi, Nassarawa, Kebbi, Kastina, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Enugu, etc.

“Not less than 100 churches have been razed or burned down or destroyed by Islamic Jihadists in the past sixty days or between 12th April and 12th June 2023; out of which Plateau State lost not less than 28 churches. Several churches suffered similar Jihadist attacks in Southern Kaduna and other parts of the State including Chikun where 40 Christians were abducted in a Chikun church by Fulani Jihadists on 7th May 2023.

“Churches in Adamawa State also came under attack including abduction of two pastors in Yola and attacks on churches on 24th May 2023. Several churches and hundreds of Christian homes had come under devastating attacks in Benue, Taraba, Borno, Yobe, Katsina, Zamfara, Nassarawa and Kogi States; totaling over 100 church attacks or burnings or destructionsbetween 12th April and 12th June 2023.

“Available statistics also showed that not less than 20 Christian pastors were abducted or murdered by marauding Nigerian Government protected Islamic Jihadists between 12th April and 12th June 2023. At least three pastors and two Catholic Priests were among those killed and over a dozen others abducted.

“It was also investigated and found that the personnel of the Nigerian Military, Police and DSS deployed in the South-East and South-South jointly accounted for burning down or destruction of not less than 600 Synagogues and 1000 Traditional Religious Sanctuaries particularly in Imo, Anambra and Abia states since Jan 2021.

“The burning down or destruction of the Synagogues and Traditional Sanctuaries had arisen from false security intelligence that “members of IPOB/ESN are religious members of Jewish Synagogues and Traditional Religions which provide them with charms and spiritual backups and as a result, all Synagogues and Traditional Sanctuaries are instruments of terrorism and their members Biafra terrorists”.

Intersociety further recalled that on Easter Monday, April 10, 2023, it released a Special Investigative Report and disclosed that “no fewer than 1,041 defenseless Christians were hacked to death by Nigeria’s Jihadists in the first 100 days of 2023 or 1st Jan to 10th April 2023 and over 700 others abducted”.

It explained that the Report also disclosed that “5,191 defenseless Christians were hacked to death in 2021 and 3,800 others abducted by Nigeria’s Islamic Jihadists” and that “in Jan to Dec 2022, 5,068 defenseless Christians were hacked to death and over 3,000 others abducted-with 10% or 300 permanently disappeared or incapable of returning to their families alive”.

The report added: “Special Investigative Report also held that, “52,250 Christians and 34,000 moderate Muslims or 85,250 faith believers have been killed by Nigerian Islamic Jihadists and their “Esprit de Jihad” in the Nigerian Government security establishments since July 2009”.

“The Special Report further found that 30, 250 Christians were hacked to death under Buhari between June 2015 and March 2023; 14 million Christians uprooted and five million forced into IDPs and refugee camps including over 2.5m in Benue State-with over 800 Christian communities sacked, 18,000 churches and 2,200 Christian schools attacked or burned down or destroyed.

“Our latest updates have now shown that “not less than 1,100 Christians were slaughtered by the Jihadists in the past two months or a total of 2,150 since Jan 2023 or a period of 160 days-during which over 1400 others were abducted”.

“A total of 53,350 Christians had been killed in Nigeria since July 2009 and 31,350 under Buhari from June 2015-29th May 2023. Not less than 18,100 churches and 2,200 Christian schools were burned down or destroyed in the past fourteen years or since July 2009 and under Buhari, Nasiru El-Rufai and others, 6,600 churches and 700 Christian schools were lost from June 2015-12th June 2023.

“Not less than 1000 Christian communities were sacked by Jihadists under Buhari, Nasiru El-Rufai and others between 2016 and June 2023 and under their security watch and directives since Jan 2021, not less than 600 Christian Synagogues and 1000 Traditional Religious Sanctuaries were destroyed or burned down by the drafted federal security forces in Old Eastern Nigeria or South-East and South-South Regions.

“Intersociety is globally known and respected for strongly advocating for end of religious radicalism through propagation of radical Islamism and fanatical Christianity in Nigeria since 2010 and has issued not less than twenty special reports or publications associated with them.

“Intersociety has also earned a name and international respectability as Nigeria’s leading anti-Christian persecution and radical Islamism watchdog and was admitted as a member of the United States-based International Alliance against Genocide since 2020.

“We have been closely monitoring patterns and trends of anti Christian persecution since 2010 and killing of minority Muslims and moderate others by non state actor armed Islamists and Muslim dominated Nigerian security forces from 2015 to 2023.

“The patterns and trends of the state actor religious butcheries under our close watch include introduction of state radical Islamism policy by the former Government of Nigeria in 2016, introduction of Nigerian security forces dimension to anti Christian butcheries across the country such as pro Islamic internal security operations in Eastern Nigeria since 2016 involving ethnic and religious profiling associated with atrocious military operations in the East and the military protected invasion of Eastern Christian forests, bushes and farmlands by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen since 2016.

“We have monitored and tracked massacre of Christians and burning down or destruction of their sacred places of worship, religious symbols, Christian schools and living houses and farmlands across the country. These are done or carried out using research, investigation, documentation and publications. We also generate statistics from local and international media, religious, community, security, research, intergovernmental, nongovernmental, human rights bodies, international parliamentary organizations or diplomatic institutions.”

While citing El-Rufai's pro state Jihadism recent outburst as vindication of Intersociety, it sought for not just his arrest, but a trial at ICC.

The group said it has fully earned the enviable and unrivalled position as Nigeria’s “Nostradamus”, saying: “This is to the extent that we have, again, been vindicated by recent revelations by Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, immediate past Gov of Kaduna State.

“The former Kaduna civilian Gov had had a video/audio clip of his boastful “successful transformation of Nigeria into Islamic State by successful replication of full Islamic rule in Kaduna State since 2015 at the Federal level”-culminating into emergence of Muslim-Muslim Presidency of Nigeria.

“Intersociety had severally and consistently disclosed in its several reports that the Southern Kaduna anti Christian butcheries and those of Benue, Plateau, Nassarawa, Kogi, Niger, Taraba, Adamawa and South-West, South-East and the rest are carefully planned, systematically executed and well funded State Jihadism Project; modeled after the ‘Sudanese Janjaweed’ of the Omar Hassan el-Bashir’s atrocious era (1989-2019). Intersociety had also categorically stated that its findings showed that the killings had nothing whatsoever to do with the so called “Farmers-Herders Clashes”.

“It must be remembered that Gov El-Rufai had in 2015 abolished the “Kaduna Charter of Equity” by scrapping ‘powering sharing between Muslims and Christians”. He not only scrapped positions reserved for Christians including seat of Deputy Gov of the State but also deployed state machineries including coercive instruments to unleash unchecked and ceaseless attacks and persecution of Christian leaders in the State.

“Not only that they were several times arrested and clamped into detention but also a number of Christian traditional rulers were killed or dethroned or sent to prisons and bylaws establishing their thrones abolished and replaced with Fulani Emirate codes. Figures of those killed or abducted in the State have also been consistently mangled or twisted to create a questionable database that looks as if “more Muslims are being killed or abducted than Christians in the State”.

“Intersociety hereby joins the Coalition of Nigerians living in the United Kingdom in calling on the leaders of the Southern Kaduna, the Middle-Belt and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to go after Mallam el-Rufai by ensuring that he does not go scot-free or walk the streets of Nigeria and west Democracies freely as an outlaw.

“The UK Government as a State-Party to the Statute of the International Criminal Court of 1998 and domestication of same which also produces the current Chief Prosecutor of the Court should ensure that the likes of El-Rufai, Buhari, Buratai, Musa Daura, Arase, Alkali Baba and the rest of the served and the serving senior security officersin the country from the ranks of military Lieutenant Colonels and Police CSPs since August 2015 are blocked from setting their feet on UK soil or arrested and charged for crimes against humanity and genocide or incitement to same, if they do set their feet on UK Soil.

“Where it is found that they have appointive or elective engagements such as academic board (Oxford) in the case of El-Rufai, such appointments or elections should be terminated.

“Intersociety also wishes to unequivocally state that it is morally reprehensible for the UK Government to continue to play host and open its international doors to worst violators and abusers of human rights and promoters of genocide and genocidal incitements. The UK Government cannot probate and reprobate by globally parading itself as “a Democratic and Human Rights Respecter State” and at the same time found wanting as a country encouraging or harboring grisly and egregious human rights abuses and violations and their abusers or violators.

“This clarion call of ours on the UK Government is also extended to the Governments of United States, Canada, France, Germany, Portugal Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Scotland, Denmark, Sweden, Australia, Norway, Spain, Italy, rest of Europe and the United Nations Organization as they should avoid replicating the infamous roles of “the Three Musketeers (UK, France and Belgium)” in the Rwandan Genocide of April-July 1994.”