Akakan Umoh
American Christian Missionary, Alex Barbir is still in deep shock why some Nigerians have turned their anger on him instead of condemning the mindless killings of Nigerians by terrorists in some Northern parts of the country.
Over the week, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, an Islamic cleric, scholar and former Nigerian military officer and Bashir Ahmad, former presidential media aide to the late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari have been on the neck of Barbir, for ‘‘exacerbating divisions between Muslims and Christians in Plateau State.’’
More than 27 people were killed in an attack on the Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North district in central Nigeria on Palm Sunday.
“Gumi is posting about me, Bashir Ahmed is posting about me. Why haven’t they condemned the k!llings? They haven’t talked about me rebuilding villages, they haven’t talked about me drilling boreholes.
‘‘But then, when I speak out against pure ev!l and t3rror, when innocent people are sl@ughtered, then all of a sudden Gumi comes from his grave,” Barbir queried.
Gumi sounded described Barber as a CIA agent causing religious killings in Nigeria, asking that the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Federal Government should investigate him with a view to arrest and prosecuting him.
He advocated for an investigation into a purported U.S. missionary, suspected of being a clandestine CIA operative, exacerbating divisions between Muslims and Christians in Plateau State. He asserts that this individual is inciting tension rather than promoting peace among Christians and Muslims in a region already fraught with instability.
A former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad urged Nigerian authorities to take action against a foreign national accused of spreading hate speech and inciting unrest within the country.
Ahmad made the call in a post shared on X on March 30, where he raised concerns about what he described as unequal treatment in handling speech-related issues.
He argued that Nigerians are sometimes punished for expressing their opinions, while certain foreigners are allowed to operate without consequences.
“Now, it is unjustifiable to arrest Nigerians for expressing their views or opinions about other countries, while at the same time allowing a foreigner to operate freely within our borders, publicly spreading hatred and attempting to incite violence,” he said.
Ahmad specifically mentioned an individual identified as Alex Babir, alleging that his activities could threaten public peace if not addressed promptly. He called on relevant security and government agencies to act in the interest of national stability.
“The relevant authorities should take immediate steps to caution Alex Babir and, if necessary, apprehend him, then send him back to his country in the interest of maintaining peace and order,” Ahmad added.
In another tweet on X Wednesday evening, April 1, Ahmad claimed that an American missionary, Alex Barbir, has been asked to leave Nigeria.
He accused Barbir of trying to cause religious tensions in communities across the North-Central.
Ahmad wrote: “A reliable source has informed me that the hate monger, Mr. Alex Barbir, has been ordered by the authorities to leave this country.
“Since arriving in Nigeria, he has been attempting to ignite religious tensions, particularly in communities he visited across the North Central region.
“Our nation’s peace and unity must never be compromised and anyone found promoting division should be held accountable.”
However, outspoken Plateau-based Pastor, Ezekiel Dachomo, had sent a strong warning message to Sheikh Ahmad Gumi over an alleged threat to Alex Barbir.
“Gumi Let me tell you something, putting the picture of Alex Barbir, He is far better than you, and he has identified with the people.
Even in the hospital, both Christians and Muslims were affected, and he is there tending to the wounded.’’
According to him, ‘‘Meanwhile, you, Gumi, are being accused of negotiating and speaking on behalf of those causing harm, seeking compensation from the government. What kind of religion is that?
‘‘And now, by putting Alex Barbir’s picture out there, you may be exposing him to danger from those same violent groups. Let me be clear: if anything happens to him, I will hold you responsible.
You claim to preach peace, yet your actions are seen as fueling division and crisis. I am ready to stand by what I’ve said, put my picture out there too,” Dachomo cried out.
Meanwhile, an American national, Alex Barbir (also known as Eyal Yakoby), has been exposed as a member of the notorious US private military contractor Blackwater/Academi, with a background linked to training ISIS fighters in Syria and involvement in conflict zones across the Gulf region and the Sahel.
Peace advocate Mustapha Gembu said Barbir entered Nigeria under the guise of providing humanitarian assistance to IDPs in Benue and Plateau states but has since been inciting Christians against Muslims and promoting anti-Fulani narratives. He was reportedly seen with Plateau-based warmonger Ezekiel Dachomo.
Gembu warned that just hours after Barbir incited Christians in Jos, violence erupted in the Rukuba area, resulting in the deaths of over 14 people. He questioned Barbir’s true motives, noting his unusual appearance and behaviour, and cautioned that such foreign agents aim to ignite religious war in Nigeria before disappearing, leaving Nigerians to fight among themselves.
Gembu called on the Nigerian government to immediately investigate Barbir and his local associates, arrest and prosecute him if found culpable, or deport him permanently to prevent further destabilisation.
“Nigeria belongs to Nigerians. No foreign agent should be allowed to walk into this country and set it on fire,” he stated.
