189. Wasted lives in Nigeria 

If you could choose where to be born, which country would you pick? 

Certainly not Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, and many Arab countries, including Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Nigeria. The reason is best known to you. I believe these are cursed places on earth. 

So, what would you say to those born in these countries who face difficult circumstances? I am not sure about you, but my answer would be: “It would have been better if they had not been born at all.”

Yes. Life is about being able to enjoy whatever nature offers you. And there is no limit. Nature has every good thing in abundance. Life is brief, and it’s impossible to experience all the good things available.

Now, just imagine if you were born in Nigeria. With a population of 23 crore, 53.50 percent of the people follow Islam, and 45.90 percent follow Christianity.

Ever heard of Boko Haram, the jihadist militant group founded in 2002 with the primary aim of purifying Sunni Islam in northern Nigeria? 

Aligned with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Boko Haram is known for its brutality. Since its insurgency began in 2009, the group has killed tens of thousands of people in frequent attacks against police, armed forces, and civilians. The conflict has led to the deaths of over 300,000 children and displaced 2.3 million people. Later, some militants left Boko Haram due to internal disputes and established their own group, called "Islamic State's West Africa Province".

Boko Haram translates to “Western Civilization is forbidden” and advocates for the supremacy of Islamic culture. Other English translations include "Western influence is a sin" and "Westernization is sacrilege."

Recently, over 160 people have been killed in two villages in western Nigeria, marking the deadliest armed attacks this year. Communities are struggling to cope with ongoing violence carried out by jihadists. An armed group affiliated with the Islamic State had carried out the attacks. 

Reports indicate that gunmen captured residents, restrained them, and killed them. They also burned homes and shops. Locals identified the attackers as jihadists who often preached in the village and called on residents to reject loyalty to Nigeria in favor of sharia law. When the villagers resisted, the militants opened fire during a sermon.

Some time ago, Nigerian troops rescued a pregnant woman and her three children, 10 years after she was abducted as a schoolgirl by Boko Haram militants in Chibok. She and her three children, born in captivity and estimated to be between two and four years old, have not yet been reunited with her family.

She was rescued from the area where 276 schoolgirls were abducted in April 2014. Ten years later, 82 of them remain missing after the widely publicized mass kidnapping.

The Chibok abduction marked the beginning of a series of mass school kidnappings in Nigeria, shocking the world and sparking a global social media movement called #BringBackOurGirls. Since then, over 2,190 students have been kidnapped. Women are raped by insurgents or forced into marriage.

Why mention the common man? In February 2024, gunmen murdered a Nigerian traditional ruler and abducted his wife during a raid on his palace. Similar attacks regularly take place in Nigeria.

Nigeria has been under intense scrutiny after U.S. President Donald Trump alleged a genocide of Christians. The claim has been rejected by the Nigerian government, which says security crises claim the lives of Christians and Muslims alike, often without distinction.

But at least this time, I believe what Trump says. The victims are only Christians. We have seen this happening in Bangladesh and many other countries where Islam is strong.

It would be good if the US attacked Nigeria to save Christians, which sadly India couldn’t muster the courage to do in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, where the Hindus were killed like roosters.

It is the duty of a capable nation to make people happy anywhere in the world by hook or by crook. To hell with the sovereignty issue. Trump must read it and act. 

It's better not to dwell on the idea that Karma and good deeds from previous lives determine this birth. These are theories that should be thrown into the nearest ocean.