Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza interviewed by Robert Cheaib
There is a silent
genocide going on systematically in Nigeria since 2009. It is related directly
to an islamist terrorist group known as Boko Haram (which literally means
“western education is “forbidden” or is a “sin”). The official name is Jama‘at
ahl as-sunna lidda‘awati wal-jihad (People committed to the prophet's teachings
for proselytism and jihad). This brutal group was founded in 2002 in Maiduguri, in northern Nigeria, by
islamist cleric Mohammed Yusuf.
Statistics estimate that
the number of victims of terrorist attacks has gone beyond 20 thousand deads.
Many of them have been caused during Christian prayer congregations. Only in
the first half of this year, 2,053 civilians were killed in an estimated 95
attacks, according to detailed analyses of media reports as well as field
investigations presented by Allafrica.com.
The fear of the
atrocities of the terrorist group has led people to flee from their villages. Father
Michael Walsh, a missionary from the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.) who has
been operating in Nigeria for 18 years now, explains that it is unthinkable to
expect from ordinary people to face Boko Haram due to the extreme discrepancy
in means. The terrorist group has years of training and sophisticated weaponry.
Even the Nigerian Army is comparably “under-armed”.
Most
Rev. Stephen Dami Mamza Bishop of Yola Diocese to explains the gravity of the
threat that the Christian communities are facing. The answer of the Bishop was
unequivocal: Christians are facing the danger of being totally exterminated.
*
There is a deafening
silence about what is going on in Nigeria. Probably due to more “profitable”
wars around the world. Can you explain to us what is going on?
The
situation in the North East of Nigeria is very critical especially in Southern
Borno and Northern Adamawa. These regions are mostly Christian dominated areas
but they were overrun by the members of the Boko Haram including my home
village, Bazza, taken over by the Boko Haram some two weeks ago. Those lucky to
escape have escaped to the mountains and to the bushes, those who could not
were killed by the islamists. Others were forced to be islamized.
The
people trapped on the mountains are without food and clean water and many are
dying of hunger. Most of those who escaped have arrived in Yola and are
internally displaced. All the parishes on Yola are full of displaced people. In
my Cathedral alone we have over five thousand registered displaced persons.
These displaced are in need of the basic necessities of life.
What dangers are the
Christian communities running around Nigeria?
The
Christian Communities running around the North east are facing the danger of
being exterminated.
How come there is no
local (national and official) real resistance against Boko Haram?
There
does not seem to be any assistance from the International community. Our
military do not seem to be serious in handling the insurgency as they are on
the run out of fear of the Boko Haram.
Is Boko Haram
related and financed by the so called Caliphate? In other words, how come they
are becoming this strong?
I
personally do not know the financier of Boko Haram but they seem to be funded
by local and international groups and individuals.
What is your appeal
and request to the world in this situation? How can people and nations help you
out?
My appeal
and request to the world in this situation is for the world to come to our
assistance before we are completely exterminated. Our military should be
assisted to contain the situation. We need relief materials for those who are internally
displaced. People are dying of hunger, diseases and they have no shelter.