Nigerian University Reopens but Christian Murderers Remain Free

According to Compass Direct, a news agency for persecuted Christians worldwide, the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) in Bauchi, Nigeria has reopened after it was closed due to persecutions against a number of Christian students in December 2004.

Compass Direct reported on 20th December 2004 about the clash between Muslim and Christian students at ATBU. Muslim students attacked their Christian counterparts and murdered Sunday Nache Achi, an evangelical campus leader at ATBU, on 8th December 2004.

Two universities, ATBU and Federal Polytechnic in Bauchi were closed after the threatening violence. Christian leaders in Nigeria condemned Muslim university administrators at ATBU for inciting hatred among Muslim students against other Christian students.

Representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Bauchi said the schools should not re-open unless the Nigerian government prosecuted the Muslim militants who killed Achi.

Even worse, the persecution continued after the murder of Achi, Compass Direct reported on 3rd February, Muslim militants pronounced a death sentence on the five Christian students who were expelled in November 2004 for conducting an evangelistic outreach. Miliants went to the homes of these students in an attempt to kill them on 26th January. The families of two of the students, Miss Hanatu Haruna Alkali and Abraham Adamu Misal, were attacked. CAN has in fact pleaded for the expelled Christian students to be re-admitted.

Nigeria’s Fellowship of Evangelical Students (NIFES) also responded to the issue with deep concern. A statement released on 28th February from NIFES demanded the immediate removal of the university administrators from their positions so as to protect the lives of students in the institution, as CAN suggested.

NIFES described the brutal killing as "a crime that was perpetrated under the guise of defending a different religious point of view."

NIFES said that the vice chancellor of ATBU, Professor G.A. Babaji and the university’s dean of post-graduate studies, Dr. A.O. Ibrahim, have made inciting statement on the floor of the university’s senate.

"The council is concerned that the university administration has abdicated its responsibility to protect the lives of students committed to its care," NIFES stated.

Compass Direct reported that on 28th February, ATBU still reopened under tight security. However, the university has not met the demands of Christian leaders who sought the prosecution of the murderers of Achi, and the reinstatement of five other Christians that were previously expelled.

The Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) told Compass Direct that over 200 churches and 225 Christian schools were destroyed, 84,000 lives were claimed in the ongoing clashes between Muslims and Christians in the central state of Plateau in Nigeria since 2001.

Rev. Dr. Pandang Yamsat, president of the church said that all the churches in the Muslim-dominated areas of Plateau state have been completely destroyed. However, he described the indifferent attitude of the Nigerian government to the attacks, saying the Nigerian government is not doing anything to safeguard the lives of Christians.

Meanwhile, the government of Japan in conjunction with the Japanese International Corporate Agency has offered to rebuild all the 225 destroyed Christian school, according to Compass Direct.

A representative of the embassy of Japan in Nigeria, Mr. Mizotani, declared to the Plateau state government that the Japanese government will rebuild the schools in 14 local government areas of the state affected by religious violence.