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Dear fellow Nigerian brothers in the forests, I greet you; Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi. If there are foreign fighters among you, I greet them too in the name of humanity. I am a committed Christian but I have great respect for my Muslim friends and fellow Nigerians. Many Muslims are my best friends.
Here, I want to adress an issue of concern to many Nigerians concering your behaviour since 2009. Many Nigerians, especially muslim patriots agree that your murderous activities are unislamic and unacceptable before God. They insist that killing, maiming and attacking innocent citizens in the guise of religious belief or ideology is not acceptable before God.So, the killing spree you have embarked upon is anathema and evil before God.Painful and devastating is the gory sights of you beheading your victims without any remorse. The most recent is the beheading of a maths school teacher in Oyo state. This act aggravated the anger of Nigerians against you. If I may ask, if your parent, brother or sister were mercilessly murdered by some armed criminals, how would you feel or react? Dont forget that whatever you sow is what you will reap. The future is very close and I will sincerely advise you to stop killing innocent Nigerians- your brother and sisters, your fellow Nigerians. After all, the last adminstration under President Muhammad Buhari extended an olive branch to you and instead of embracing the gesture you turned it down.Did the Holy Quran not encourage peace? Are you not supposed to preach peace to convert people to Islam? Must you resort to force and act of wickedness and violence? I once interviewed one of you who was repentant and he told me that the oldest members are not up to 55 years. Is spilling innocent blood what you will continue doing for the rest of your lives? Are you not tired? Are you not considering quitting and starting new lives? Record shows that thousands of innocent Nigerians have been killed or maimed by you since 2009.You have been in the forests for more than a decade, what type of life is that? When last did you see members of your family most especially your parents? Through this letter, I’m encouraging you to disengage from terrorism and bloodletting and reunite with your families. If you refuse to listen or adhere to my advice, you will regret your action. A word is enough for the wise. There is no sane person who would abandon his or her family and pitch tent with forests for over 10 years. Only animals live in the forests. It’s unfortunate and saddening that you have turned forests to abodes . Even this letter cannot be delivered to you because the forests are no fixed addresses, they are no habitable places. The life you are living in the forests is below human dignity. Even as I write this, I perceive in my heart that many of you are short changing your destinies because among you, I believe, are great teachers, doctors, scientist,politicians, senators etc who could contribute to the development of Nigeria.In all ramifications, what you are currently engaged in is not what Allah has ordained for You. Allah wants you to live a good life in a good environment. Allah wants you to worship Him in a well built mosque not in the forests. Allah wants you to live with your families and not to live with animals in the forests. My friends, Allah wants to bring out the best in you so that you can be a blessing to humanity.Nigerians desire that you stop this barbaric killings and surrender in the interest of peace. Nigerians are not happy that you took up arms instead of tabling your grievances. I recall in 2013, one of your senior members reached out to me through the phone number on my column, he ( now late) expressed the desire to meet with Nigeria’s Security chiefs to discuss terms of surrender. That move was a cheering development and I pray that you will take such step again as we approach the festive period and lay down your arms to in the interest of peace,progress and development of our fatherland. Let me assure you there is alot to gain when you embrace peace. There is also alot to lose when you embrace war, not just any war but war against your fatherland. Apart from being the loser, you will also regret and later face punishment. The holy book says: “What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul”, and so, I ask you, what will it profit you if you kill everybody because of your ideology?
I write this letter out of love. Repent and surrender so that all will be well with you and Nigeria, our dear country.
I am Elder Ben, a fellow Nigerian and security writer
Security hints for the week ( culled from the book, “Dark Clouds”)
1.Before retiring to bed check all your doors and windows. Never leave this to servants or maids.
2. Pin down your car doors while in a traffic gridlock.
3. Valuable objects should be locked away in a solid drawer and safe.
4.Avoid taking lifts and giving lifts to unknown persons.
5. Do not leave any proof that you have travelled from your house or business premises.
6. Provide burglary proof to your business premises when you travel.
7. Do not leave valuable items in your car.
8. If the key to any locker,cupboard,wardrobe or door is lost,replace the lock at once.
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8. Do not open your door to unknown persons and teach your household the same.
9. Don’t display your mobile handset while driving.
10. Ensure that you park your car where eyes can see it after locking it.
11. Ladies’ handbags should be hidden under the car seat while driving.
12. Keep your vehicle particulars in your bag not in the car
13. Report any suspicious movements or faces within your vicinity to the police
14. Employ only registered uniform security guards and ensure you have the passport of your maids,driver,cleaner and any other official or domestic staff
15. When driving and there is traffic gridlock, wind up your glass or remove your wrist watch, neck chain or your mobile phone.
16. Housing Estates should install a centralized alarm system
17. Female drivers should wind up their car glasses when approaching traffic areas
18. Keep your secret information to yourself or wife if necessary
19. Provide reinforced burglary proof to large size building doors
20. Engage a trained security officer to keep an eye on employees, customers and clients
