Imagine the outcry if the roles were reversed. But no one will take any notice of this.
“Nigerian Government Keeps Christian Orphans Hostage,” International Christian Concern, February 17, 2024:
02/17/2024 Nigeria (International Christian Concern) – The 16 Christian children from Du Merci Orphanage will remain in Nigerian government custody. This is the latest decision in a four-year legal battle between Du Merci Orphanage Director, Professor Solomon Tarfa, and the government of Nigeria.
A judge from the Kano State High Court 12 says he has “too many cases to deal with that are more important,” refusing to grant Tarfa and the children a trial. He urged the parties to settle outside of court, issuing a deadline of June 4, 2024, to “get back to him.”
The case of the Du Merci children dates back to 2019 when Nigerian officials raided the Christian orphanage on Christmas Day. Police officers from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) confiscated 29 children and moved them to government-run facilities. Professor Tarfa was detained and imprisoned on alleged charges of kidnapping and abduction.
While in government custody, authorities split the children up, including siblings, and forced them to recite Arabic, study Islam, and attend prayers in a mosque. Since the children had Christian names, authorities reassigned them Muslim names.
In June 2021, Tarfa went before the Kano High Court and was acquitted of his kidnapping and abduction charges. However, a day before the trial was over, the prosecution presented forgery charges in connection with Du Merci’s official registration document. Even though Professor Tarfa received the registration document from the government, the prosecution accused his document of being fake as it did not have a proper serial number. Professor Tarfa was found guilty and continued to stay in prison.
In April 2022, Tarfa appealed the forged document ruling, and almost a year later, the Court of Appeals discharged and acquitted Tarfa of all charges.
During the appeal trial, Professor Tarfa’s niece testified that many of the children who come to Du Merci are through Tarfa’s friend, a doctor who is asked to perform abortions. The doctor refers these women to Du Merci, who offers to take the children and allow the mother to reclaim custody later if she chooses to do so. The judge said this evidence proves Solomon Tarfa is a hero rather than a person worthy of punishment.
Now, Professor Tarfa wants the Nigerian government to be held accountable.
Tarfa has asked Kano State to pay reparations for his illegal imprisonment, false accusations, and the illegal confiscation of his children. The reparations would also cover the costs of rebuilding Du Merci Orphanage, which was demolished by the government, and the cost of rent for Professor Tarfa, his wife, and the released children, who had to relocate to an apartment….
SC says
Almost as corrupt as American courts. We can no longer judge Nigeria.
Stive says
This. Is sickening. Nigerian Christians are one of the most persecuted Christians in the world and almost as sickening is western supposed Christians don’t care. Nigeria like Lebanon was once a Christian nation. But then again north africa nations and even Yemen were once Christian.
What’s horrid is in our lifetime Hillary Clinton tentacles is how Moslems got control of Christian Nigeria. In ivory coast a Christian nation, the United nations ran a fraud election as half the Christians did not vote for the moslem, so when the Christian president would not step down, french forces invaded and installed the Moslem. Does the west not know they are next? England is no longer a Christian nation but has yet but soon become a Moslem nation too.
From The Other Side of Town says
Thank you Stive, for this additional information. And of course, thank you Mr. Spencer for your ongoing reports and analysis.
somehistory says
Terrible things were done and are being done. And, I too, thank you for the added information on what has happened in Africa.
world@70 Richard says
These poor children will now become victims of Islamic missionaries at work, the only way they know how, by force as usual.
somehistory says
Nothing short of demonic will satisfy mozlums in their pursuit of world domination for their false god and fake…if he ever existed…prophet.
On behalf of these children, this is heartbreaking. And I know it must be so to the man who has done so much to give the little ones a home; and to the doctor who helped the babies to have a chance at life.
If these children have listened and paid attention, they can keep Christ and His promises in their hearts, and He will certainly keep them close. The Day of Judgment is fast approaching and these children will be set free from the demonic; and those who do satan’s desires are held fully accountable for their evil deeds.
Simba says
O Lord Jesus forgive us, and have mercy on your children , rescue them according to your word, you are a father to the fatherless, please grant justice and for Solomon and children o Lord please