Inscriptions like this speak volume
of the level of persecution in Nigeria
Members of an Islamic group in Nigeria known as Boko Haram launched attacks against local Nigerian security forces and Christians in northern Nigeria on July 27, 2009.
In the clash between the Islamic group and Nigerian forces, over 700 people were killed. This violent Islamic militant group sought to impose a strict form of Shariah law throughout Nigeria.
Pastors Sabo Yakubu, Sylvester O. Akpan and George Ojih were murdered for refusing to renounce their faith and convert to Islam.
International Christian Concern (ICC) http://www.persecution.org/ recently spoke with an individual who witnessed Pastor Ojih’s faithfulness to Christ in his final hours before he was killed for refusing to convert to Islam. We’ve only edited the interview slightly, so that you could read the story in the eyewitness’ own words: Please read!
ICC: What was the initiation the Muslims were forcing Ojih to do? Can you describe it?
Witness: The initiation is not only Pastor George Ojih, it’s general—something they ask all the Christians. If you change your religion, they would not hurt you; but if you not change, then you should go the other side (there were two groups of people-those willing to convert and those refusing). That was the threat. We were lying down on the ground flat, facing the sun. So they tie our legs and our hands together. They say, “if you want to go for Christ, go this side, if you want to go for Mohammed, remain where you are.” Then we move away from where they put us to those that go for Christ. And we’re few. I think it was 8 or 9 by then. So when we are there, they separated us. We are there until they capture other people. Because I was wearing white, they ask, “If you want to go for Christ, go and meet that person with white cloth. And if you want to Islamize yourself, you should stand here and remain here.” That’s how they divided us.
Then later on, to those that were together initially when they capture us, they now ask them that they should go because they accept to follow Mohammed. They were teaching them how to pray, how to do ablution, how to do all sorts of things.
ICC: Can you describe the spot where they interrogated Pastor Ojih?
Witness: They asked Pastor George Ojih to change to Islam. He refused to change. Another believer was with Pastor Ojih; but when he discovered that changing his religion will save his life, he now decided to change in order for them to release him, his wife, and his child. So (this other believer) did all what Boko Haram they asked him to do. He converted to Islam and he confessed it before the church.
Boko Haram then asked Pastor Ojih him to bend downward facing the floor. Somebody come rushed at him with a machete, come from behind and sliced his neck through the back. When he sliced his neck, now, Pastor George Ojih started struggling and he lived a long time before the body become relaxed. Then he died at the railroad tracks near their camp.
ICC: Were there any witnesses?
Witness: Really, there are many eyewitnesses. Both the Christian and the Muslim that confess, the Christian that confess that they deny Christ … it was an open place where they saw all these things happen.
ICC: How did the Muslims react once Ojih was killed?
Witness: I heard that, when he was killed, they were celebrating.
They now triggered their gun, shouting their normal chanting—Allahu Akbar (God is Great.
This interview is reproduced verbatim and for more information on this and related stories on Christian persecution all over the world, log on to ICC Website: http://www.persecution.org/ or The Persecuted Church blog: http://churchpersecution.blogspot.com/
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