Our History
BEGE Ministries started in 1999 in response to the Muslim-Christian crises in Nigeria that have taken and continues to take so many innocent lives. There is no data to authenticate the number of people who have died as a result of Muslim-Christian confrontation but it is estimate that between 1970 to date not less than 100,000 people have been brutally murdered in such crises. Nigeria has been a nation of tumult since independence. Of course, there is no gainsaying that the country was simply created to serve British colonial interest and has remained so even after its independence in 1960. The most disturbing facts about the country stem from the rivalry between the various ethnic nationalities, which in most cases have always taken a religious tone. At the dawn of independence it was evident that Britain was a leaving a nation in chaos. First of all, independence was delayed because the North was not ready for it in 1957 and when it was eventually granted, the colonial government installed a government ran by feudal lords from the north. This situation later culminated into an unfortunate Civil War between 1969 and1970. The Civil War marked yet another turning point in ethnic and religious rivalries that continue to date. Since 1976 Nigeria has experienced not less than twenty religious disturbances that have led to the loss of tens of thousands if not hundreds of lives and property in billions. The most bloody ones being the Kano riots of 1976, 1977, 1980-81, 1990 and most recently 2004. The Maitatsine riots that dominated the early1980s and the Kafanchan riots of 1987. The Zangon Kataf crisis of 1991-1992 which were mainly ethnic riots supported by the Babangida's government took a religious dimension. Others include the Bauchi riots of 1980-85, 87-90, Kaduna riots of 2000 and 2001 and most recently the 2004 the Yelwa-Shendam massacre in Plateau State which resulted in deadly reprisals in Kano state are just a few to mention. In all of these crises, the political class has manipulated the poor and deprived members of society for its selfish personal or political gains. The introduction of strict Shari`a law in some northern states has served as a catalyst for intense religious and political rivalry especially in the North. It is not that Shari`a has not been part of the social live of the north, it has been there since the early parts of the nineteenth century, especially after the Othman dan Fodio jihad of 1804-7. The only difference now is that it has been elevated to include the criminal aspects that have not been applied ever in the history of Nigeria. Advocates of such strict application cannot be described as doing it for religious reasons but rather for political purposes and in order to silence the voices of their political opponents. BEGE Ministries is a response to these crises and strives to bring about religious dialogue as well as promote mutual respect among the various religious groups in Nigeria and Sub-Sahara Africa. You will learn more about Islam in Africa from this website |
