The Massacre in Kano

On Friday, January 20, 2012, the city of Kano was invaded by an army of killers in the name of Boko Haram. By the time they were done, no fewer than 186 persons lay dead; among them were security personnel from the police, army and immigration as well as several civilians. The magnitude of the attack was unprecedented and scary. The manner in which it was carried out has also exposed the increasing desperation and sophistication of Boko Haram in pursuit of whatever sinister agenda the group may harbour. But there are issues.

Considering that Boko Haram gave warnings that they would invade Kano, the seeming helplessness of our security agencies was exposed by the fact that they were caught unawares. That the group could also plant and explode bombs in eight different locations at the same time also shows that they have better intelligence. What's more, Boko Haram did not sneak into town, they marched into Kano in broad daylight. While there must be a serious inquisition as to what happened, we mourn with the government and the people of Kano State, even as we condemn this mass murder for which we do not see any justification.

Unfortunately, the needless blood-letting came at a time Nigerians were demonstrating that if left alone, Christians and Muslims would live by the tenets of their religions, both of which preach love, peace and good neighborliness. Nothing illustrates this better than the show of camaraderie between adherents of the two faiths during the recent nation-wide protests that attended the removal of fuel subsidy. In Abuja and Kano, for example, Christians protected Muslims, not from fellow Christians but from the police while they performed their Friday prayers. In Minna, Suleja, Kaduna and Kano, Muslims also protected churches during Sunday service. Both Minna and Suleja are in Niger State, where only two weeks before, a church in Madalla was bombed by persons believed to be members of Boko Haram.

The case of Kano was particularly unique. For the first time in the 45 year history of that state, Muslims joined Christians in church during their Sunday service and delivered a message of love, peace and tolerance. They also promised to protect them from whatever harm that may come their way. The local leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) was taken round the city from mosque to mosque while the fuel subsidy protests were still going on, to meet and dialogue with prominent Imams, as well as around the residences of prominent sons of the state. In the process, the Concerned Citizens of Kano signed a covenant with the leadership of CAN which reads in part, “We commit ourselves to doing everything within our power to help preserve and protect the lives and properties of all Nigerians living in Kano State, without regard to ethnic, sectional or religious affiliations and beliefs. We make this commitment fully convinced that it is in accordance with the tenets not only of the Nigerian Constitution but also of all monotheistic religious traditions and beliefs, especially those of Christianity and Islam.”

When Boko Haram attacked the city last week, the Concerned Citizens practiced what they preached. They sought out and sheltered stranded Christians in mosques and in their private residences. Traditionally, Kano Christians would have sought refuge at the state police command; only that this time, it was the police command that was under attack.

This is a story that we should all feel proud to tell in order to alienate the extremists and the terrorists in our midst. The more we lump the good and the peace-loving with the bad and the violent, the more we play into the hands of those dark forces whose aim is to destabilise our nation. Religious, community and political leaders all have a major role to play in this regard as the only way to triumph over the machinations of the evil ones amongst us is to continue the difficult task of building an atmosphere of love, peace and religious tolerance.