Nigeria: Boko Haram Victim Refuses Vengeance

SCRIPT:

Nigeria: Boko Haram Victim Refuses Vengeance
Reporter/Producer, Greg Musselman, VOM Canada. Edited for GNA 2024-11

INTRO:
More followers of Jesus are killed for their faith in Nigeria than any other country in the world. Every year, thousands of Nigerian Christians die at the hands of militants who are determined to turn Africa’s most populous nation into an Islamic state. Greg Musselman, of Voice of the Martyrs Canada, brings us one victim’s tragic yet inspiring story.

SCRIPT:

VO: In 2007 I met 13 year old Nankpak Kumzwom at a Christian orphanage in southwestern Nigeria. Nankpak became very emotional as shared with me the horrible events that happened five years earlier when he was just 8 years. Militant Fulani Muslim attacked his Plateau State village, targeting Christians
NANKPAK KUMZWOM, Terrorist Victim: All of a sudden, there were gunshots, and I was shot in my back.

VO: During the attacks Nankpak was also hit with a machete on his shoulder, while he survived, his mother, father and younger brother and sister did not. After reconnecting with Nankpak through social media after 17 years, we met in person a few months later near Jos in Plateau State

VO: “Nankpak, let’s go back to June, 2002, militants attacked your village, you lost four members of your family. What do you remember? I know you were just a little boy at the time, just 8 years old. But looking back and thinking about it, what do you remember?

NANKPAK: “We had these militants, the Muslim militants, they attacked our community. We decided to run for our lives and I remember how we got into the bush. In the bush Fulani men were there, also looking for people to kill.”:
VO: While the family was hiding in the forest and trying to save their lives Nankpak heard that his father, Wilson, who pastored a church in the village, had escaped the rampage.

NANPAK: “Because he had escaped, but then he thought about his children and his wife, where are they? I don’t know where they are. How will I escape as a man and my family is not with me. So he came back to come and look for us and that is how he got caught and was killed.”

VO: That same day, Nankpak, his mother and two younger siblings were discovered in the forest by one of the Fulani militants.

NANKPAK: “He had a small pistol with him and he was going to start shooting.”

VO: Nankpak’s mother, young brother Pirmak and sister Jane were killed, but 8 year old Nankpak somehow survived

NANKPAK: “But miraculously I was still alive, he didn’t know, he thought everybody had been killed so he left.”

VO: When the Christian orphanage in Abeokuta heard about what happened to Nankpak and that his father had been a pastor, he was brought there where he could live, be educated and receive help dealing with the trauma of losing of his family members.

NANKPAK: “All the children there, they had lost one or both parents. We got to share our stories with each other, and we also have so many come around to advise us, encouraging us in the Word of the Lord, telling us that all will be all right, all will be fine. God has not forgotten about you.
VO: One of the verses that has helped him over the years is Jeremiah 29, verse 11

NANKPAK: “’For I know the thoughts I have towards you, the thoughts of good and not of evil to give you a future and a hope.’ So this was a constant reminder, this was a constant scripture that was mentioned with us.”

VO: Nankpak, Jesus makes it very clear that we are to forgive, but you were just a little boy when you lost your mother, your father, you lost two siblings.” How were you able to work through forgiveness and forgive those that did this HORRIBLE thing to you and your family?

NANKPAK: “It took me a very long time, really because after it happened all I could think about was vengeance. All I could think about was when I grow up I’ll make sure I go back and retaliate. But then I followed the doctrine of Christ and His teachings where He was teaching His disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:12 ‘Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.’ Christ is telling us that we need to forgive. He has come to the world to die for our sins, even while we were yet sinners, so that is what He is leaving for us. And I believe it is important to forgive them. Forgiveness is not only for the people, but also for myself so I can be able to shed that load I’ve been carrying for a long period of time.”

VO: After completing seven years of schooling at the orphanage Nankpak went on to graduate from University with a degree in microbiology with the goal of becoming a medical doctor, something he told me about in 2007. However those plans changed, Nankpak had volunteered at the Stephen Centre orphanage during and after he finished university.

And is now serving with Stephanos Foundation, a Christian organization that is dedicated to helping believers in Nigeria who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus.
Mark Lipdo is the founder and Program Coordinator for Stephanos Foundation and has known Nankpak since the 2002 attacks and explains why having him join the ministry was so important.

MARK LIPDO, Founder, Stephanos Foundation: “We were at the stage where we were helping young children who have gone through similar situations, so I knew, having gone through it, he would be the best teacher
he would be an example for those children.

NANKPAK: “Because God has comforted me and I believe people also need to be comforted. So God has been directing me on that path and he has helped me to be where I am today to be able to comfort other people who have experienced persecution.

VO: Near Jos, Nigeria, I’m Greg Musselman for the Global News Alliance.

Story Provided By:
Greg Musselman, Minister at Large, VOM Canada

Producing Organization
Voice of the Martyrs, Canada, https://www.vomcanada.com/

Recording Location
Nigeria

Reporter / Producer
Greg Musselman

Organization featured in this Story
Stephanos Foundation, Nigeria

People Interviewed and their Titles
Nanpak Kumzwom, Terrorist Victim
Mark Lipdo, Founder, Stephanos Foundation