The Christian victims recounted their ordeals in attacks by Boko Haram at a press conference in Abuja held by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and representative Nigerian Christians residing in the United States. Dr. Musa Asaki and Laolu Akande, secretary general of CAN and president of Nigerian Christians residing in the U.S. addressed the conference.
Akande, while speaking at the press conference, pleaded that Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan become more proactive in the fight against Boko Haram and terrorism in the country.
“I think the government itself has expressed hopelessness, including President Jonathan who has said on several occasions that this problem is big,” Akande lamented. “We believe that Nigerian government cannot handle this problem anymore. There are instances of lack of political will on the part of the federal government. The cases of some supporters of Boko Haram, like those senators who have been accused, should be pursued.”
Reiterating the importance of fighting terrorism proactively, Akande said: “Government can become more aggressive in going after members of Boko Haram and those supporting this sect. Government is not proactive. It must seek support from other countries, like the United States, to deal with Boko Haram. This is an international problem. I wish government could do more in protecting the lives of Nigerians. Some of the cases are not even reported. How can somebody go to another person’s house to kill? If government cannot provide law and order, it then becomes worrisome.”
He pleads with Nigerians and people of goodwill to “rise up and come to the financial and material aid of the victims of Boko Haram attacks in northern Nigeria.” It is the plight of these persecuted Christians he says has made Nigerian Christians residing in America take note of the impact of the actions of Boko Haram: “We are concerned about the widows and are touched by the plight of the orphans. We reckon that many of these individuals are left without a source of livelihood.”
Assisting these oppressed Christians, Akande says, is the most important and urgent task facing Christians, not only in other parts of the country, but also posing as a challenge to global leaders in countries like America.
“If backers of terrorists are raising the money to perpetrate acts of terror, supporters of and advocates for peace can no longer look the other way,” he argued. “We want to join with CAN today to call on Nigerian philanthropists, businesses, and captains of industry, well-to-do individuals and all people of goodwill to consider the financial plight of Boko Haram victims and lend a helping hand.”
“We are an advocate for innocent and helpless people being slaughtered in their places of worship,” Akande said of the decision of their association to speak out in favor of the persecuted. “Christians are being killed, churches are being attacked and destroyed, health workers and doctors are being assassinated, markets are being ravaged, police precincts are being vanquished and neighborhoods are being tormented. This wickedness must stop. We commend the bold leadership of CAN for speaking up in a categorical, courageous and consistent manner on the Boko Haram issue.”
In the city of Zaria, where two churches were bombed by suicide bombers last year, a former Christian Nigerian army general, Theophilus Danjuma, expressed sadness over the incessant attacks on Christians and called for a united fight against Boko Haram and other terrorists in the country.
Danjuma, who was speaking at the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, said, “Our founding fathers sought to create a united and self-reliant society based on respect for human life and respect for the rights of others, irrespective of tribe or religion. They would certainly be appalled that today the nation is in total anarchy. Human life is very cheap and impunity has become the norm. In the case of the North, the danger is very real indeed. Ladies and gentlemen, we are in the middle of a civil war in Northern Nigeria. There is no defined front in this particular war and, worse still, the enemy is faceless and unknown. There is no immunity for anyone.”
Danjuma was speaking to an audience consisting of Muslim and Christian leaders, academia, and others at the convocation ceremony of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
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