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Evangelist Osaro Alihu
A Christian Evangelist, Abubakar Osaro Alihu, who grew up under the tutelage of his father, a traditional Islamic educator and Chief Imam of six clans in Agbede Etsako West in Edo State has called on Nigerians across the country to embrace religious tolerance.
Evangelist Osaro, who recounted how he almost lost his life due to religious intolerance, said Nigerians must put an end to further loss of lives and properties caused by religious bias.
According to Osaro, “I suffered terribly in the hands of my community, immediate family, close friends, and even my biological father after I converted to Christianity.
Osaro, who detested religious superiority as promoted by some individuals in the society, said:
“Ever since I got converted to Christianity, hell was let loose in my community, especially my immediate family and close friends. I detest the hatred and the belief that one religion is superior to others, as shown by my family and friends.
“Many have verbally abused me while some have cut off all dealings with me. They have spoken to my hearing, why should the first son of an Islamic educator and Chief Imam, who was expected to take over from his father, dump Islam to an opposing religion? This infuriated my father, who threatened to disown me if I didn’t openly denounce Christianity.”
My father’s request scared me so much that I had to relocate to No: 9, Ajenifuja Street off Governors road Ikotun Lagos. It wasn’t long after I got to my new location that I heard from my wife that while I was away, my father traced us to the new address with my brothers on 12th June 2013 and unfortunately, I was in Ghana for a course. According to my wife, Indira, my father and my brothers that came with him forcefully intimidated her and put an incision on my son, Raymond’s leg. I reported the situation to the police but was told that it was a family matter.
For fear of further threat, we had to move again to another address, No, 9 Feyistan Street, Egan Igando in Lagos for the safety of my family and I. I had information that the chief Imam had sold four plots of the land I inherited from him in our village as his first son. As a result, I had travelled home and confronted him. I was ready to take him up on this, but his reply surprised me. He asked me “If someone takes away your property, can’t you fight him to take it back”? In my reply, I told him that it all depends on who took it.”
Furthermore, Osaro continued “When I travelled back to Lagos, something mysterious happened to me that night. I was in a trans, I wasn’t sleeping and wasn’t awake either. At about 12:46 a.m., I saw four strong hands yanking my mouth wide open and forcing a jelly-like white substance into it. I physically jumped up from my bed and felt some movement of the substance in my throat as if it were penetrating between the throat and my chest. I immediately woke my wife and explained to her what had happened and the need to pray. We knelt to pray, but I slept off. I thank God my wife prayed till about 5 a.m. I phoned my father at about 7 a.m. to share my experience with him, but he responded as if he never knew me and ended the call. From then on, he refused to pick up my several calls to him. I assumed he was expecting a call to hear that I was dead. I went for a scan, but nothing was found. Thank God that after about one week, the movement in my throat vanished.
For the third time, Osaro and his family had to again quickly relocate to Ikorodu in Lagos in a bid to save his life and that of his family members. On the 12th of March, 2023, a colleague, Mr. James, who drove my car to visit his friend, narrowly escaped being shot by suspected hired assassins. The suspected assassin’s car double-crossed him and two young men alighted with their guns pulled out and ready to shoot him but thank God one of them was quick to recognize that he wasn’t their target and told the partner “‘That’s not him and they jumped into their car and zoomed off. The story of James got me so scared and worried about who could have been after my life. who wanted me dead at all costs. So I sold the car and we quickly relocated again to Selewu Igbogbo also in Ikorodu. We now live in fear as we can’t say what will happen next. This prompted me to relocate my family to where I think they may be safe while I manage to live in fear. It’s only a fool who thinks there’s no God. He doesn’t need anyone to force or fight someone to come and worship Him. God is too powerful and able to force people to worship Him, but He chose not to. What sense does it make for ordinary human beings to fight, maim, and kill others for God’s sake? To me, that’s the most stupid thing anyone would do for God. How long I will enjoy my safety, I don’t know. I only ask God to help me, especially in this era of insecurity in the country.
