How Does Fasting in Kidnappers’ Den Look Like? -By Abdulkadir Salaudeen

About two weeks ago, a Christian colleague asked me, “When are you starting Ramadan this year?” I wondered why he asked, since it is unusual. “Is it true that the fasting begins on the 18th of February?” he further asked. Since normal Muslims do not fix the Ramadan date, they wait for the Almighty to determine it through the appearance of the crescent, I told him it was possible. If we do not start on the 18th, we will definitely start on the 19th. Then he concluded, “If you start on the 18th, it means Ramadan and Lent would begin on the same day.”

Then, I got the point. And interestingly, we started Ramadan in Nigeria on the 18th. This is a rare coincidence whereby the two major religious groups begin their respective holy fasts on the same day. This coincidence should foster social unity; and, to some extent, even religious unity. But because we live in a country where some people seek relevance through causing division, if they are not successful in creating ethnic discord, they resort to religion. To them, religion is a lethal weapon that does not fail in creating division and causing chaos when other divisive mechanisms fail.

If Christians truly believe we are all descendants of Adam (Act 17:26) and Muslims believe our Lord created us from a single soul (Qur’an 4:1), why shouldn’t we see ourselves as brothers and sisters? But because we profess to believe what, deep inside, we do not really believe, it has become difficult for us to see and treat one another as brothers.

I am using this opportunity to plead with all Nigerians: let us use this sacred period to pray for all victims in kidnappers’ dens. They became victims not because they lost their way. We are not victims only by providence; not because we know our way. Anyone is vulnerable — a potential victim. It is time to pray, pray, and pray.

Let’s ask ourselves: How does fasting in a kidnapper’s den look like? Rather than get an answer, many other questions crept in. Is it even possible to fast? Do they even know it is a fasting period? Do they have a sense of day and night? Does a calendar make any sense to them? Are they not fasting already, before Ramadan and Lent?

While those who are fortunate not to be kidnapped supplicate day and night to the Almighty for this and for that, while we ask God for promotion in our workplace, while we ask God for a new house and car, while we ask God to make us excel in our endeavors, while we ask God to enrich us through our businesses, while we criticize the government for lack of electricity, piped water, good roads, and other social amenities, those in kidnappers’ dens have only one prayer: how to be free. It is about how to gain freedom from the constricting shackles placed on them by agents of Satan who have mastered evil more than Satan himself. May we not be victims. May all victims regain their freedom.

People wonder why these terrorists still attack even in these sacred periods when Muslims and Christians are in holy mode and mood. I wonder why people wonder. These terrorists are people who do not have religion in their dictionaries, even when they claim to be Christians and Muslims. The Lakurawas in the North, the bandits and Boko Haram terrorists, the Unknown Gun Men (UGM) in the South, and other criminals across the Nigerian state lack religion.

Thus, religion, whether understood rightly or wrongly, does not define their modus operandi. We would sound naive to think they will cease striking, kidnapping, or killing because we are fasting. It is like saying or thinking the bad elements among those ruling us in Nigeria will stop acts of injustice because Christians and Muslims are fasting. Wouldn’t it be naive to think that because of Lent and Ramadan, there would be stable electricity, salaries would be paid on time, and our hospitals would start functioning, at least till the end of the fasting period?”

No! It will not happen because corrupt rulers can not become saints momentarily just because we are in the month of Ramadan and because it (Ramadan) coincides with Lent. It is not in their makeup to do justice, no one should expect justice from them anytime or any day.

Take for instance, a recent example. Last week, majority of our fasting lawmakers (Christians and Muslims) at the National Assembly rejected the clause in the bill that mandates electronic transmission of election results. In other words, their sacred abstinence from food and drink did not stop them from voting against transparency, which electronic transmission of election results would have probably ensure. Rather, they were at ease and felt no compunction about supporting an electoral system that facilitates rigging election results.

So, the question is: how does fasting affect the behaviors of our representatives and rulers? If fasting does not affect them positively (this is on the assumption that they are fasting), how do we expect fasting to affect Satanic agents all over Nigeria (who might not even be fasting) from carrying out their nefarious and devilish acts? The point is: Lent or Ramadan does not mean anything to bandits, terrorists, and kidnappers.

In conclusion, President Tinubu should prioritize addressing insecurity issues over politics, as politics continues to take the front-burner attention. Clerics close to him should let him know that power belongs to God and He gives it to whom He wishes. No amount of politicking can, alone, hand him victory in 2027. The government’s body language shows it is less concerned about hundreds and thousands of people being killed or chained in kidnappers’ dens on a daily basis.

Finally, powerful and responsible leaders and citizens take action to address overwhelming insecurity issues like the ones that bedevil Nigeria. If they believe in God, they take action and, in addition, pray for successful outcomes. In Nigeria, the government pays lip service to taking action while the citizens are also powerless. But because we believe in God, let us continue to pray, pray, and pray. I pray we get it right one day before it is too late.

May all those in captivity (Christians, Muslims, and others) gain their freedom. Sad!

Abdulkadir Salaudeen 

salahuddeenabdulkadir@gmail.com