A missiological panacea to the Boko Haram Islamic insurgence against Christians in North-Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Religio-ethnic violence is a 'monster' which continues to traumatize the nation Nigeria. The Northern part of this country where this writer was born which is predominantly Muslim, has continued to be the hot-bed of violence which is shrouded in the garment of religious and ethnic rivalry. Within the last decade, no other major development has commanded the attention of the media both locally and internationally about Nigeria like the news of the repeated violence unleashed by the Boko Haram (a Hausa phrase meaning Western Education is forbidden or sacrilege) Islamic sect, particularly in Northeastern Nigeria. While using a combination of research method (historical analyses, literature, biblical exposition and participant observations), the study analyzed the precarious situation and recommended to Christians in the affected areas a missiological panacea. Thus, owing to the missionary and pilgrim natures of the church, the paper while alluding to the Bible in Mt. 10: 22-23 and other references, recommends Jesus admonition to 'flee from place to place' during faith related persecutions. It is obvious that opinions will differ among Nigerian Christians on an appropriate response. However, if persecuted Christians will be alive to clamor for justice in order for peace to reign in Nigeria, this study argues that the first missiological response of Christians in keeping with the missionary and pilgrim natures of the Church is to flee from places of life threatening persecution to places where their lives are not threatened due to their faith inclinations.