A British Christian family whose relative was murdered by Islamists in Nigeria have called his execution video ‘a grace’.
The terrorists killed the man on Christmas Day. He was in a group of 11 who were kidnapped, and was shot alongside four other Christians.
A 49-second video shows five armed members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) lining up behind five men dressed in orange robes who are kneeling with their hands tied behind them. The men gave their names in the video as Uka Joseph, Sunday, Wilson, Joshua Maidugu and Garba Yusuf, but also said as their last words ‘I am a Christian’.
A friend of the family in Britain speaking exclusively to en said: ‘The family have called the evidence from the video a grace as at least they know what happened to their relative. Many families have no idea what happened to their family member. The hope can be crushing. In those few days between the kidnapping and before the film was seen, it was crushing to allow yourself to hope. Hope deferred makes the heart sick.’
Speaking anonymously to protect the family, the friend continued: ‘It was Christmas Day when the family received a message informing them of the kidnapping. Christian friends rallied around praying immediately. Just a few minutes later, they were told that a body had been found. But hope was raised when they were told the next day that the body wasn’t that of their relative.’
‘They were hoping and praying that perhaps negotiations with captors could take place, and that perhaps the kidnap victims would be held as hostages. However, a few days later the execution video began circulating. It appears the group were executed on Christmas Day.’
Speaking in the Hausa language common throughout northern Nigeria, one of the ISWAP militants then says: ‘This is a warning to Christians in all parts of the world and those in Nigeria … Use the heads of these five of your brethren to continue with your ungodly celebrations.’
