Threats on Youth Corps members in Goronyo, Sokoto… Christian activity banned within places of residence
It’s been already about a week since I got my NYSC posting letter to Adamu Mu’Azu Model Science Secondary School, and so far I had not identified with any Christian fellowship in Goronyo, including the corpers fellowship being NCCF(Nigerian Christian Corpers Fellowship). I had never even attended the early morning devotions that hold in the corper’s lodges; not because I never felt like but probably because my lodge is detached and a little distanced from the main corper’s lodge, coupled with the fact that I was still shuffling to and fro the Sokoto metropolis where I had friends, and I didn’t immediately settle down in Goronyo. And so, this afternoon, Thursday 2nd April when the NCCF zonal co-ordinator, a man named Amos, came by my lodge to invite me for a bible study to start by 4:00pm, I was looking forward to it.
Not long after a few of us had come around the lodge hall way where the study holds, and a brother had raised a few choruses to open the meeting, the fellowship co-ordinator, Mr Amos, walked in nervously to announce that our NYSC Area Inspector(A.I.) for our local government wanted to see us all urgently and we had to suspend the meeting. After everyone had gathered, the A.I. handed a letter to Papa (so are NCCF co-ordinators nicknamed) to read out to our hearing.
The contents in the letter frightened apparently all of us corpers. You would know why after I have told you the rest of the story.
The A.I. narrated how he got a call from the Goronyo Local Government Chairman that morning, requesting his presence urgently. On arriving in Goronyo from Sokoto, he learnt from a disgruntled Chairman, how that the night before, a band of certain youths from within the community had ganged up to attack corpers at the corper’s lodge *phase I), Goronyo. Their grievance included that: the corps members had turned the lodge given them for resting to a place of worship, that the Christian corpers disturbed the community also with loud singing and praying.On top of all however, was that they allegedly had been inviting people from the community to worship and pray with them.
This they took to be unacceptable attempts to influence and convert their people to Christianity (Sokoto is presumably an Islamic state and traditional Christian evangelism is prohibited in most circles) for which they had made ready to unleash their anger on this group of predominantly Christian corpers, damning the consequences.
What saved the situation, was that one of them suggested to let the Chairman(being Moslem himself) know of their mission. On hearing their plans, the Chairman supposedly had to plead on behalf of the corpers, promising to caution them and restrain their religious excesses in order to appease the mob.
One of the next steps the Chairman took was to prepare a letter which he personally signed and copied to a few concerned departments including our NYSC A.I., to the effect that all religious activities within the corper’s lodges and all places of residence be stopped, and such activities be restricted to the area the community had already designated to certain churches for religious activities. The letter also stated that any lack of compliance to this directive would be dealt with as a breach of law and order.
The A.I. advised that copies of this letter be posted around all corper’s lodges as a notice.
The effect of this news on all the corpers gathered in that meeting with the A.I. at Adamu Mu’Azu’s main corper’s lodge was dramatic. I for one was confused – having heard, read and reported things like this, I had never been so close to religious violence. I sat their quietly observing the response of others. Many of the corpers didn’t bother to disguise their discouragement. As far as they were concerned God had saved their lives this once, and many didn’t see the point giving him another chance(don’t mind me).
Stories of religious crisis have become common recently in the country: 3 coppers were killed in the religious riots in Jos a few months ago. Right here in Sokoto, some time ago according to our A.I., in one of the other Local Government Areas, corpers were attacked like this for similar grievances, their building was said to have been set on fire with corps members inside. And so maybe my dear fellow corps members had good reason to be concerned for their lives. The batch B corper who sat next to me holding a big bible which he had brought for the study we were supposed to have that afternoon, quickly tucked it in his armpit. “As from today” he announced, “my bible now lives in my bag… I have only 4 months to be through with service and out of here.” The very guy who Papa asked to remind me when it was 4:00pm about bible study, was the first to leave the meeting. He made a similar comment, He didn’t wish to be seen in Goronyo with his bible again either.
I have not said anything to indict anybody. Most corps members here are folks from the south like myself where the Christian religion and Church is popular. Most of us had never been threatened with death for attending a church meeting, and so our natural first reaction was mainly one of shock.
The NCCF co-ordinator, Papa, assured the A.I. that we as Christian corps members would cooperate with the directive, but equally encouraged the Christians about the need to pray intensely about the situation.
One other believer said he saw the hand of the devil at work and was already rallying for prayer too. He added that he was ready to pick his bible and go back to town to preach; To that, I advised him to be considerate of other people he was possibly exposing to danger. I felt it was more responsible to be careful about what we did till the whole dust settled. I wonder if I gave him the right advice.
I had to leave Goronyo the next morning to be in town for some other responsibilities and to see other people, but I remembered to pray for those I left in Goronyo. Please pray along if you can and may God bless you.
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Reader Comments
I find this post quite interesting.First of all I will remember you all in my prayers.
The word of God admonishes us to be discreet in the things we do. Jesus said to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar…in essence to respect the rule of law, in the Land we find ourselves.I mentioned previously that I live in the middle east, basically more strict,than northern Nigerian about kingdom things.
Since open evangelism is against the law, your means of evangelism becomes your life style. The locals will notice this and come to you themselves…hence an opportunity for sharing.First make friends with the locals, when they you gain their trust and friendship, opportunity will arise for you to share. Your fellowship for instance ,can organize events to reach out to the needy in the community (the doctors amongst you can treat people locally,use your profession to reach out to the people in which ever way they are applicable). You will be amazed at the results.
Thanks. you are quite right about the effect of social relief programs as a means of reaching people under these circumstances. I was involved in a number of similar outreaches and had the privilege of organizing one with my friends and fellowship members before I left that community. We adopted this methods in many creative ways.
I left Sokoto finally earlier this year anyway.