Rights by Pastor Ayodele Joseph Oritsejafor.
“Statement of Ayodele Joseph Oritsejafor,
President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)
Oversight Hearing
Before the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights
On “U.S. Policy Toward Nigeria: West Africa’s Troubled Titan
July 10, 2012 full deets inside...
Chairman Smith and Members of the Subcommittee, I want to thank you for the opportunity
today to address this committee and for your interest in the situation in the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, and especially the increase in terrorist attacks targeting Christians and Christian
Institutions. Just this last weekend, 58 people were killed in Christian villages in Jos, including a
federal senator and a state lawmaker. Boko Haram already claimed responsibility for these
coordinated attacks against the Christian community in Jos, and they also reaffirmed their earlier
position saying that “for Christians in Nigeria to know peace they must accept Islam as the only
true religion.” Boko Haram is not only a northern problem, but a Nigerian problem with global
implications. Nigeria is not a country divided by North and South, but a country divided
between those who support freedom and equality in the eyes of the law, and those who promote
persecution and violence as a means to an end.
To an outside observer it may appear as though Boko Haram is not a monolithic group; that it is
fragmented and disorganized, but I am here today to give you the Nigerian perspective. Since its
creation, the Boko Haram network has never hidden its agenda or intentions. Boko Haram has
openly stated that they reject the Nigerian State and its Constitution and seek to impose Shari’ah
Law. To this end, Boko Haram has waged a systematic campaign of terror and violence. They seek an end to western influence and a removal of the Christian presence in Nigeria.
This is outright terrorism, not legitimate political activity or the airing of grievances. By
refusing to designate Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organization, the United States is sending
a very clear message, not just to the Federal Government of Nigeria, but to the world – that the
murder of innocent Christians, and Muslims who reject Islamism, and I make a clear distinction
here between Islam and Islamism, are acceptable losses. It is hypocritical for the United States
and the international community to say that they believe in freedom and equality, when their
actions do not support those who are being persecuted.
A non-designation for the group only serves to hamper the cause of justice, and has emboldened
Boko Haram to continue to strike out at those who are denied equal protection under the law.
The frequency, lethality and sophistication of Boko Haram’s attacks raise disturbing questions
regarding training and logistical support they have received from other like minded international
terrorist networks. In January 2012 the United Nations Security Council published a report
stating that Boko Haram members from Nigeria received training in AQIM camps located in
Mali and Chad during the summer of 2011. That same summer Boko Haram carried out a bold
terrorist attack against the United Nations building in Abuja. Boko Haram did not hesitate in
claiming responsibility for the attack, nor has it ever hesitated in claiming responsibility for its
ongoing attacks against police, military, local businesses, and increasingly churches and
Christian institutions.
In Nigeria, my people are dying every single day, and it is only a matter of time before the
international terrorist links and anti-democratic Islamist agenda of Boko Haram turns its
attention to the United States. In fact, this may already be a reality, in April of 2012 the NYPD learned that a U.S. resident living on the East Coast had sent surveillance, including maps and
photographs of lower Manhattan and the Holland and Lincoln tunnels to an alleged member of
Boko Haram based in Nigeria.
State Department designated Boko Haram’s current leader; Abubaker Shekau and 2 others as
“specially designated terrorists”, but fell short of designating the organization. This would be the
equivalent of designating Bin Laden as a terrorist, but failing to designate Al Qaeda as a terrorist
organization.
Although I am aware that the designation of Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organization is
not the final solution to all of Nigeria’s problems, yet it is an important first step towards
restoring the confidence of those who support freedom and equality in the eyes of the law.
We too, want to have freedom, freedom of religion, freedom to worship as we choose without
fear, we want to have justice, based in equality and not driven by discriminatory religious
practices. Let me remind us that this is not about economics but about an ideology that has a
history of sponsoring genocide across the globe. As Boko Haram increasingly turns towards
genocide through the systematic targeting of Christians and Christian institutions in pursuit of
its goals, history will not forget the actions or the inactions of your great nation. I thank you for
this opportunity and I look forward to continuing our strong
partnership with America.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”
What are you thinking?
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