Boko Haram ‘wants to wipe out Christians’

Christians are the main target of Boko Haram attacks in the north-east, Catholic bishops have alleged.

In an interview with the media after a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday, Ignatius Ayau Kaigama (pictured, with Jonathan), the president of Nigerian Bishops Conference, said the principal aim of Boko Haram is to eliminate Christianity and pave the way for the Islamisation of Nigeria.

Kaigama also indicted the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) over the “lopsided” distribution of relief materials to victims of terror.

He said Boko Haram’s agenda is “very clear”.

“They want to destroy what is not, according to them, authentic Islam and the Christians fall into that category and so we are the major target just like the government is a target, the Christians are a major  target, other Nigerians are also targets, but we suffer more,” he said.

“For instance the Bishop of Maiduguri will tell you how many of his parishes have all been destroyed. His minor seminary, his convent and clinics where sisters work, have all been destroyed. Then the priests are on the run, reverend sisters have all abandoned their homes, they are all on the run.

“In Yola, you find that many people are distressed and displaced. While we admit that some Muslims are also targeted, we want to believe that the principal aim and concern of Boko Haram is to eliminate Christianity and pave the way for total Islamisation of the country.”

He further said: “We had some concerns about the situation of security in the nation as well as political developments. So in general terms we shared with him in a conversation and discussion. We just wanted to remind him of things he already knows. There was nothing we said that was new. We just wanted to lay emphasis and we wanted him to know we are concerned.

“The president is already doing his bit. He has assured us that he is on top of the situation. They are reviewing strategies and all that and by the grace of God this terrorism that we are witnessing will soon be a thing of the past. This is the assurance we are coming away with.

“We feel that things are not right. Territorially our land is being taken away. The people we look after are displaced, their homes, their villages, towns are captured and they are internally displaced being refugees in their own land.”

He also spoke on the efforts by the church to provide relief for victims of terror.

Kaigama said: “As Catholics, we have laid a good structure for relief and taking care of such situation, we want the government to collaborate with us. We have what we call the Catholic Peace and Justice, Commission, we respond when there is an emergency. We know how to technically do registration of displaced people.

“The little funds we gather we buy clothing and materials and are able to reach out very effectively, you would almost say scientifically because every victim gets something.

“So we are telling government that we are aware of the wonderful effort they do, the relief they give through NEMA and other agencies, the effectiveness of the distribution is our concern.

“We are here with long years of experience. As Catholic church we don’t discriminate. In fact, 90 per cent of the people we give relief materials to are not Christians or even Catholics, so we should be brought on board.

“We should combine the skill of registering adequately displaced people and then knowing the right approach to give them relief so that they can feel the impact. What is being done now is not effective and that is the truth.”

The delegation included John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the metropolitan archbishop of Abuja, Matthew Hassan Kukah, bishop of Sokoto diocese,  Mike Onolemenme, minister of works, Viola Onwuliri, minister of state for education, and Olajumoke Akinjide, minister of state for FCT.