Militant threatens to kill Muslims, burn mosques if Christians, churches are attacked

A militant group, the Niger Delta Revolutionary Crusaders, NDRC, has warned against attacks on Christians and churches in the north.

NDRC gave the warning while responding to threats by the new Boko Haram leader, Abu Masab el Barnawi, who had last Wednesday threatened to burn down churches and kill Christians.

In a statement by its spokesperson, W O I Izon-Ebi, the group said it will carry out reprisal attacks on Muslims and mosques in the oil-rich region if Boko Haram attacks Christians.

The group in the statement alleged that el-Barnawi’s recent threat was part of the plot to islamize Nigeria.

NDRC said, “We want to alert Nigerians and the world that the Islamization plot has been proven by the Boko Haram new leader Abu Masab el Barnaw that their new mission is to kill all Christians and burn down all churches.

“But, we want to warn them that we, the Niger Delta youths, in this 21st century will not accept killing of innocent Christians or burning of churches. That if they try it in the north or any part of Nigeria, we the Niger Delta youths will not see any Muslim or mosque in the Niger Delta.

“We are not against President Buhari granting the Boko Haram amnesty if their sole purpose is to own an Islamic caliphate in the north, but they should not shift it to the Niger Delta.”

The group further asserted that its struggle is focused “resource control and true federalism, if truly they believe in one Nigeria, and are working harder to build a prosperous One Nigeria, let them shift their Operation Crocodile Tears to the Fulani herdsmen and the Boko Haram that is threatening the unity and peace of Nigeria.”