Islamic Extremist Militants in Nigeria Execute Five Men as Warning to Christians, Video Shows

Three Christians among those killed.

Islamic State in West Africa Province militants before execution of aid workers in Borno, Nigeria. (Screenshot)

Islamic State in West Africa Province militants before execution of aid workers in Borno, Nigeria. (Screenshot)

JOS, Nigeria (Morning Star News) – Islamic extremists have executed five Nigerian men in Borno state, with one executioner saying it was a warning to “all those being used by infidels to convert Muslims to Christianity,” according to a video posted on Wednesday (July 22).

Three of the men shot to death from behind on the video were identified as Christians by a resident of Borno state, where the executions apparently took place.

In the 35-second video posted on YouTube by Eons Intelligence before it was removed, the three Christians kneel blindfolded by red cloth alongside two others believed to be Muslims while five men armed with AK-47 rifles stand behind them.

“This is a message to all those being used by infidels to convert Muslims to Christianity,” one of the executioners says in the Hausa language, translated by Morning Star News. “We want you out there to understand that those of you being used to convert Muslims to Christianity are only being used for selfish purposes.

“And that is the reason whenever we capture you, they don’t care to rescue you or work towards securing your release from us; and this is because they don’t need you or value your lives. We therefore, call on you to return to Allah by becoming Muslims. We shall continue to block all routes [highways] you travel.

“If you don’t heed our warning, the fate of these five individuals will be your fate.”

The speaker than commands, “Bisimilah [Go on],” and the five men are shot dead.

The Borno resident (name withheld for security reasons) identified three of those killed as Christians. He said Ishaku Yakubu, an aid worker from Chibok with Action Against Hunger, was a member of the Church of the Brethren (EYN); Luka Filibus, an aid worker from Monguno with the International Rescue Committee, was an EYN member; and Joseph Prince, a private security firm worker, was a member of the Redeemed Christian Church in Maiduguri.

In a previous video recorded on June 21, Prince and Filibus identified their captors as members of Khalifa, a term used by prior captives for a Boko Haram splinter group, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP).

In the prior video, Prince says: “My name is Joseph Prince, and I’m a staff member of Halogen [a private security firm]. I was traveling from Maiduguri to Monguno on official duty on June 1, 2020, when I was captured by Khalifa soldiers at 11:37 a.m. As of today, June 21, 2020, the date this video is being recorded, I’m still being held captive. I plead with my organization to please secure my release.”

In the prior video, Yakubu says: “My name is Ishaku Yakubu, and I work with Action Against Hunger. I was captured on June 8, 2020, while I was traveling from Monguno to Maiduguri. I plead for my organization, Action Against Hunger, to kindly secure my release.”

Filibus, the third Christian victim, in the prior video says: “My name is Luka Filibus, and I work with the International Rescue Committee in Munguno Local Government Area. I was captured by Khalifa soldiers on June 3, 2020, while I was on my way to Maiduguri. I plead with my organization, International Rescue Committee, to kindly secure my release.”

Action Against Hunger and the International Rescue Committee confirmed the deaths of their workers in press statements condemning the executions.

Buhari Statement

A statement from Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari indicated that the other two men executed worked with Nigeria’s State Emergency Management Agency and a company called Rich International.

Through spokesman Garba Sheu, Buhari sent condolences to the families of those slain and said the government will do all it can to ensure that “every remaining vestige of Boko Haram is wiped out completely from northeastern Nigeria.”

“President Buhari also condoles with the State Emergency Management Agency, Action Against Hunger, Rich International, and International Rescue Committee, whose staff have suffered this gruesome fate,” Sheu said. “He thanks them for their continued dedication and service to the victims of Boko Haram in Northeastern Nigeria.”

In January ISWAP executed Christian university student Ropvil Daciya Dalep, a member of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) who was kidnapped on Jan. 9 on the Damaturu-Maiduguri Highway while returning to studies in Maiduguri, Borno state.

ISWAP in 2016 broke off from the rebel terrorist group Boko Haram, which originated in Maiduguri.

On Jan. 20, Boko Haram terrorists executed the Rev. Lawan Andami, district chairman of the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria (EYN) in Michika County, Adamawa state, and father of eight children.

Edward Kallon, United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, expressed shock and horror at the killings, saying of the victims, “their safety and securing their safe release have been our highest priority since they were captured in June.”

“These checkpoints disrupt the delivery of life-saving assistance and heighten the risks for civilians of being abducted, killed or injured, with aid workers increasingly being singled out,” Kallon said. “I strongly condemn all violence targeting aid workers and the civilians they are assisting. I am also troubled by the number of illegal vehicular checkpoints set up by non-state armed groups along main supply routes.”

The U.N. has repeatedly called for an end to such blatant violations of international humanitarian law, he said.

“I implore all armed parties to step up their responsibilities and stop targeting aid workers and civilians,” Kallon said. “At a time when humanitarian needs have reached unprecedented levels, it is unacceptable that those who are trying to help are being attacked and killed.”

On Jan. 30 Christian Solidarity International (CSI) issued a genocide warning for Nigeria, calling on the Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council to take action. CSI issued the call in response to “a rising tide of violence directed against Nigerian Christians and others classified as ‘infidels’ by Islamist militants in the country’s north and middle belt regions.’”

Nigeria ranked 12th on Open Doors’ 2020 World Watch List of countries where Christians suffer the most persecution but second in the number of Christians killed for their faith, behind Pakistan.

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Comments

  1. Death for the Christian men is just but a doorway to everlasting life, to finally meet our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. Unless these killers repent of their murderous ways, read this GOD Almightyhas said,”Vengeance is Mine I will repay saith the LORD OF HOSTS” Every human being whether alive or dead must stand before the Judgement Seat of GOD.

  2. Donna Cabrera says

    terrible people doing such attrocities one day GOD WILL HAVE HIS WILL WITH EACH OF YOU WHO MURDERED TGESE GOOD MEN. A DAY OF RECKONING IS COMING

  3. I believe we as Christians better find what we stand for and stand for it… choose this day who you will serve. Joshua 22

  4. Heavenly Father, please intervene on behalf of all of those in Northeast Nigeria. You know the broken hearts of those who are left behind. You know the fear of those who have seen the brutality themselves, those whose children have been kidnapped, those who have witnessed executions. You know the heart of the mothers whose husbands have been killed. You know the minds of the congregations whose pastors have been taken from them. May they all live well for you, comforted by your Holy Spirit, knowing you will care for them and that you do care for them, reminded that you have rescued them from the dominion of darkness and transferred them to the kingdom of your beloved Son and have the hope of eternal glory. May they daily be filled with the knowledge of your will and all spiritual wisdom and understanding so that they may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord Jesus Christ, pleasing to him in every respect, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

  5. Uk standard says

    Psalm 7:16 say his trouble shall return onto his own head and his violent dealing will go down to his own crown.Jesus said he that kill with knife will also Dead by knife, and the same applies the gun. You will harvest what you plant, God is no respecter of any man, neither no favorism.

  6. JAMES KNOX says

    Jesus says: Love your enemies.
    Islam says: Kill your enemies.
    When Christians are raptured, Islam will be a dominate religion enforcing
    Sharia Laws (adds up to 666), favoring execution by sword as foretold in the Bible.
    Those Martyred for Christ’s sake receive the most difficult and costly crown:
    The Crown of Life -to those who endure sufferings, who bravely confront persecution for Jesus, even to the point of death.
    May the blood of these martyrs cry out from the ground and haunt these killers of their wickedness until they come to repentance and salvation to the One True God, our Lord Jesus Christ!

    • Actually Islam does not say to kill your enemies, your just being islamaphobic and disrespectful. They make movies about people like you. Usually having to do something with the kkk. Islam is the most peaceful religion. “Islam” literally means peace. Even in the old days when it was being spread by the prophets they were told by Allah SWT to fight back only because they are evil, cruel, non believers who want to destroy our religion. These men, who publically excecuted Christians are evil and cruel, they do not stand for the rest of us. In EVERY religion, you’ll find people who are bad or lost. These are bad men who kill in the name of god, ruining someone else’s life. Majority of people who follow Islam are good. It’s like ISIS, Just because they are Muslim, doesn’t mean they are good people. Anyone can be corrupt regardless of Islam or Christianity. A real Muslim does what they are supposed to in this life. To be kind, give to charity, do good deeds, pray 5 times a day, etc. I don’t have any hate for you or other christians in the comments because I understand you’re upset. I’m just trying to spread understanding and love one human to another. Inshallah (god willing) god will guide both me and you and those he sees fit down the path of righteousness.

    • And people have been trying to destroy Islam for forever, it’s already the fastest growing religion, even christians convert to Islam . When you say that muslims kill christians keep in mind that there’s massive genocides of Muslims going on just because they’re Muslim. In concentration camps forced to eat pork, children gang raped in front of their parents, mosques destroyed, and fed food made to not allow women to have children, stopping them from having muslim babies. It’s horrific, and once again god will deal with them.

  7. Hendricus Koster says

    Come quickly Lord Jesus

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