Dear Editor,
It is saddening watching a video clip recently released by the anti-pacific Boko Haram terrorist group, where one of the three kidnapped health workers, Saifura Hussaini Ahmad Khorsa, was being dastardly shot dead, with more threat to kill the rest two in a month time, if the Nigerian government fail to reach out to them for ransom.
It would be recalled that few months ago, the three workers of The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) were kidnapped during their humanitarian work in the remote population in Borno State. These are women, mothers and wives that have families to care for. They had left the comfort of their homes, families and friends to selflessly offer medicare to the victims of Boko Haram’s atrocities.
In the circumstance, it is important to make it clear to the public, especially, people who still have the belief that Boko Haram’s actions represent the teachings of Islam (God Forbid), that, by their barbaric and atrocious crime against humanity, these terrorists have shown that they have no respect for human lives, and therefore, do not represent the true teachings of Islam, regardless of their pretentious claim of fighting for the religion. For, the Holy Quran, Chapter 5 vs 33 declares:
“Whosoever killed a persons unless it be for killing a person or for creating disorder in the land, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind; and whoso gave life to one, it shall be as if he had given life to all mankind.”
This is a lucid message to every reasonable and truth seeking person.
What offenses have the harmless women, who have gone to provide treatments to people infected with diseases, committed to be kidnapped and killed? What have the various innocent schoolgirls, who have been kidnapped, raped, tortured and killed, done wrong to deserve such inhuman treatments? How can we relate these senseless, inconsiderate mass killings of innocent women, children and elderly to Islam – a religion that preaches peace, love and tolerance for other people regardless of their faiths or backgrounds?
Clearly, the terrorists’ actions are totally different from the teachings of Islam; and their demands are not for the benefits of Muslims, nor do they act or speak for the Muslim population. They are killing innocent people who have left their families and homes to humanitarianly attend to most terrorist-beleaguered community.
Hence, I condemn in the strongest terms the kidnapping and killing of these selfless health workers and other people who have lost their lives to Boko Haram attacks. It is inhumane, iniquitous, insane and barbaric.
These inhumane and unjustifiable actions call for more global condemnations, and more international training, intelligence support and joint military force to free the other humanitarian workers and the kidnapped schoolgirls in the Boko Haram bondage, and to return serenity in the Northeast Nigeria.
Ismail Rotimi Lawal
Member, Muslim Writers Guild, Nigeria
