‘Fulani and Kanuri were behind the Islamist group’ – Archbishop Reveals

Nigerian senior cleric, Archbishop Samuel Uche has alleged that Fulani and Kanuri were behind the Islamist group, Boko Haram, which has killed a number of Nigerians in the last five years, in a bid to seize power.
The Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria disclosed this while speaking on Sunday during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Interdenominational Service held at National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja.

He made his comment in the presence of President Goodluck Jonathan, the Senate President David Mark, the military top brass and other important personalities. 

According to Uche, soldiers waging war against the insurgents had disclosed to him and other bishops that apart from some collaborators from Chad, Libya and Somalia, 95 percent of those waging war against Nigeria were Fulani and Kanuri, Daily Trust reports.

 

He explained that those sabotaging the war against terrorism are within the political elites, while others are within the armed forces and other institutions.

The archbishop said: “Some shameless individuals and groups make such utterances and use grievous situations as a tool for politicking, blaming the government in power as doing nothing to solve the problem of insurgency. Who is deceiving who? I believe Nigerians are wiser and our people know that it’s sabotage that’s making it impossible for our Armed Forces to recover the Chibok girls. 

“Let me reveal to you this evening and at this important service at this juncture that some of our soldiers, because you know we Bishops have impact in the society, we relate with soldiers and all manner of people. And some of the people in warfront have confided in us that apart from some mercenaries from Chad, Libya as well as Somalia, 95 percent of those fighting our country are of Fulani and Kanuri origin.

“They’re aggrieved because they want power at all costs. They believe Nigeria belongs to them alone and that they’re born to rule while others follow. It is deceit.”

Speaking further, he said those behind insurgency want to Islamise Nigeria and build a parallel caliphate different from the Sokoto Caliphate. 

He however said this could never happen as any attempt by any group of people “to Christianise or Islamise Nigeria is tantamount to futility and frivolity.”

He added that every problem has an expiry date and though we may not know solutions to the challenges facing Nigeria, Boko Haram will be defeated.

He also called on the government to equip the military, take care of all the troops, provide good welfare packages for widows and children of slain soldiers.

This is coming amid the rising tension and fears over violence in Nigeria as the February elections fast approaches.

In the last one week, there have been political clashes in Rivers, Plateau and Gombe States. 

In Jos, Plateau State, the campaign buses of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation were set ablaze.

In Rivers, the All Progressives Congress (APC) office in Okrika was attacked with dynamites.

In Gombe state, some PDP’s belongings were burnt down on Sunday.

 

Daily Trust Report