DIVERGENT CORNER

Years ago, I attended a few church programmes in Rayfield. I used to like the vibe in the church but found something deeply unsettling for me. They constantly mocked other church doctrines, particularly ECWA and COCIN congregations, Pastor and especially zumuntan Mata. They never missed the opportunity to make caricatures of these women. I Found it cringe, condescending and disrespectful

They assume themselves as superior probably because they adopt a more youth oriented modern style of worship, far left, progressive, liberal ideology, and “inclusive” approach. But let me tell you one thing I learnt yesterday, intolerance doesn’t necessarily wear a turban, sometimes, it sings in a choir.

Other fanatics I encountered are those small Pentecostal groups, especially those from the southwest, they would go around insisting that we must “encounter their Jesus.” I recall one time I explained to them that I have just returned from church. In fact, I had literally just been baptized. Omoh, these guys still won’t let me be. They tormented me, ridiculed my faith right in front of me. According to them, a true encounter only happens when you meet their own Jesus, and one thing is, they are annoyingly persistent. I remember guys use to take off and hide to avoid them because if they catch you eh, your day don finish be that.

I was unfortunate on this occasion, they caught me red-handed, they stressed me so much until I lost it. I told them, pointing to the fence behind us inside old JUTH “This fence is all that separates us from a multitude of non-Christians in Gangere, why not take a stroll, go there and win some brand-new customers for your Jesus instead of frustrating fellow Christians into accepting him?”

They hated me ever since then. But I had made my point and was never subjected to their torture anymore. I don’t like what I hate. fanaticism, whether Christian or Muslim, begins with arrogance, when you belief that your path is the only true one.

Christians in Jos still struggle to understand what “jihad” truly means, and that misunderstanding has led to confusion about how to interpret the killings and religious violence going on. While most people associate jihad only with Islam, the uncomfortable truth is that extremism both ideological and behavioural are deeply within Christianity and politics.

This superiority complex is not isolated. Many Plateau Pentecostals look down on Catholics, “they worship Mary”, “they legalise alcohol” and all sorts of shallow arguments. The ones I am most terrified of are the Adventist. If you have met a devout Advent, you will understand what I am talking about. They do not talk much, but when they do, it is usually venomous. To some of them, the rest of us are condemned, destined for eternal damnation for even worshipping on a Sunday to begin with

Such mindsets are dangerous because they echo the earliest phases of religious jihad, History shows that every violent jihad first started with small ideological quarrels within the same religion, with people convinced that their version of truth is the ultimate and must be enforced. One step further and they are willing and ready to exterminate anyone who doesn’t agree. Bam! Jihad, second stage.

When believers mock, isolate, or condemn others based on denomination, they are sowing the same seeds of division that extremists exploit.

The Birth of Islamic Extremism in Northern Nigeria

To understand how far this can go, we must look back at how Islamic extremism took root in Nigeria. I can not claim to know factually when exactly or who started it, but the process is strikingly similar in spirit to what some of you Hollier than thou sentiments that some of you are now unconsciously exhibiting.

Evidence of who first began a religious revolution in Northern Nigeria is not far fetch, but those principles was what Boko Haram was built on. Others then capitalised on that, they armed and funded the small gang of extremist to be used as political Machineries, a deadly move that led to unimaginable consequences. These boys held AK 47s for the first time, tested blood and spiralled out of control of their funding lords and our lives never remined the same.

Now for all those shallow minded Plateau comrades, do the math; In the early 2000s, Governor Sani Yerima of Zamfara introduced Sharia law, He believed himself as some sort of a divine being sent for this purpose. I remember seeing videos of people’s healthy hands being surgically amputated for various crimes and being punished according to Sharia Law. His ideas sparked a huge wave of religious enthusiasm across northern Nigeria. Yerima famously declared it was his dream and the dream of every Muslim to see Sharia spread throughout the nation. This idea inspired many radical preachers and laid the groundwork for extremist groups that viewed Sharia not as a choice, but as a mandate.

Ali Modu Sheriff and the Political Hijack of Boko Haram

Around that period, Malla Kahalla , the governor of Borno State, was not as enthusiastic about the sharia law sweeping North. This made him unpopular among Islamic hardliners, falling apart with his political sponsor only worsened his situation. No price for guessing who this sponsor is. By this time the small Islamic sect “Boko Haram” whose main duty was to enforce the purest form of Islam. Their mission to rid the north of western values, bully other Muslims and non-Muslims into conformity to only strict set of Islamic values and to ensure society is governed according to Islamic law and principles only, No “Western” style of education, no military or police, just not nothing circular. Senator Ali Modu Sheriff by now was gathering momentum for governorship race. He saw the already existing Boko Haram gang as machineries and since Malla Kachalla was already losing popularity for his stance on Sharia law, Sheriff capitalised on that resentment, used boko haram as enforcers against political opponents who didn’t fully align with Sharia law.

This political manipulation gave Boko Haram resources, influence, and legitimacy. But soon, the monster grew beyond control, they evolved into a violent insurgency

 ISWAP

When the Nigerian Army eventually weakened Boko Haram, the group fragmented. Some remnants regrouped, while others merged with the Islamic State West Africa Province(ISWAP), a branch of ISIS with a more sophisticated and targeted approach.

Unlike the early Boko Haram, which attacked indiscriminately, ISWAP focused primarily on Christians, unlike Boko Haram, the Islamic state does not discriminate other Muslims they are happy for everyone to be a Muslim it doesn’t matter what kind.  so, they set up to cleanse West Africa of “infidels.” “Arni”

Headquarters based in Iraq, as of 2015, the Islamic State’s net worth was estimated at over $2 billion, financed by donations from within Iraq and Syria, ransom payments for high profile Kidnapping, and taxes from conquered territories and proceeds from sales of stollen artifacts, Louvre Heist ring a bell? Considering the exchange rate, it is farily cheap to fund the west African branch. Many of their fighters are Fulani. If you don’t know, the Fulani tribe is found in over 20 African countries. By the early 2020s, reports emerged of child-soldier academies where they train Fulani boys surfaced. By 2025, those boys had matured into hardened fighters, soldiers raised in hatred.

When the Extreme Becomes the New Normal

The evolution from religious arrogance to political exploitation and finally to armed jihad follows a predictable path. It begins with mockery and exclusion, matures through manipulation, and ends in violence. What happened with Boko Haram and ISWAP is a warning not just to Muslims, but to Christians too.

When believers stop seeing others as brothers and start seeing them as inferior or “lost,” they have already begun walking the same road.

Intolerance, whether Christian or Muslim, grows from the same root, pride disguised as faith. The divisions within Christianity now mirror the early ideological conflicts that birthed Boko Haram.

We are well on course to reaching that stage of enforcing doctrine by law or violence, the seeds are visible: mockery, condescension, and spiritual superiority.

If we do not intentionly tame these marauding Hound dogs, called “comrades” They have meticulously nurtured themselves and evolved into this cute little vicious home-grown extremist. It is only a matter of time before they descend into political and religious genocide

Every jihad begins not with a sword but with a sneer. Ask Hausa Historians about Usman Danfodio.

Vreng