Boko Haram’s Threat to Goodluck Jonathan: Should it be taken seriously?

Abubakar Shekau

The Islamic sect, Boko Haram, has made more than a few threats since they began their terror operations in 2009. Their attacks have left over 1,000 people dead since mid 2009; and preceding most of these attacks are threats to kill and to destroy.

But the recent threat made by the sect upon the life of the number one citizen in the country, President Goodluck Jonathan is nothing but daring.

President Jonathan, while in South Korea two weeks ago said that the Boko Haram phenomenon would be under control by the middle of this year. Obviously angered by this statement, the purported leader of the sect, Abubakar Shekau posted a second video on the Internet yesterday where he claimed the President cannot end their attacks in June.

In the 14 minutes video where he spoke in Arabic and then in Hausa, he threatened to devour the President within three months and vowed that he must destroy Christians and Christianity in Nigeria.

His threats in the video entitled ‘Message to Goodluck Jonathan’ were translated thus:

“Jonathan, you the helpless, we heard that you intend and want to destroy us, but this talk is useless when it is said by an infidel because only God can destroy us. Until now, nobody was able to do that (destroy us), and you too will not be able to do anything, with God’s help.”

“You, Jonathan, cannot stop us, instead we will devour you in the three months like you are boasting,” “We are proud soldiers of Allah, we will never give up as we fight the infidels. We will emerge as winners … we will finish you and end your government.”

 “If death is your worldly gain, for us, it is eternal victory to die working for Allah. Our joy is to die in Jihad for Allah against infidels like you…”

“We are also aware of some Muslims using our name to make money, we will say nothing but let them continue, and they will meet Allah in the last day.”

“We are not doing physical human service, but Allah’s work and it is clear your aim is killing us. Let me tell you with Allah we will triumph over you and your men in hundreds. We are not boasting.”

“Allah that finished Pharaoh and other wicked rulers that you are not up to, will finish you and end your government. We are not afraid because we are not doing man’s work but Allah’s work. And we will see who will carry the day.”

It’s really sad that these people must resort to taking innocent lives to pass whatever message they have across. Many of my Muslim friends tell me that Islam is a religion of peace and that the methods of Boko Haram have nothing to do with the true practice of Islam. It is therefore hard to understand why these people justify their actions with this same religion.

Just when Nigerians were beginning to have confidence in the President’s ability to end their insurgency with his declaration at South Korea, they come up with this. Who should we believe then; the President or Boko Haram?

Some people have called it empty threats, while others have said Boko Haram’s threat mustn’t be ignored. They made threats to kill Christians during the Christmas and Easter holidays and they did just that, taking the lives of many in the most callous ways. Is this threat to be taken seriously?

News Source: Reuters
Photo Credit: Sahara Reporters