Members
of the Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN), based in the United
States of America have sent a written petition to the White House and
President Barack Obama deploring the continued massacre of innocent
Christian worshipers in the northern parts of Nigeria.
The
Christian group alleged that on Christmas day in northern Nigeria,
Boko Haram was busy slashing the throats of Christians right inside
their churches or at their homes, adding that at least 15 of such
barbaric killings have been reported in the past number of days, while
worshippers had to watch in horror as their colleagues’ throats were
slit.
In
a statement signed by the Executive Director of Christian Association
of Nigerian-Americans, CANAN, Laolu Akande, in connection with the 2012
Christmas day attacks by Boko Haram in Maidugiri, Borno State, the body
urged the American Government to designate Boko Haram, as a Foreign
Terrorist Organization ( FTO).
“What
we are asking today is whether President Barack Obama and the State
Department are comfortable to be mere witnesses to this evil? Is
President Obama not aware that they are cutting the throats of innocent
Nigerians who are simply practising their faith?
“In
the hope that President Obama is not comfortable with what is going on,
we as Nigerian-Americans, are appealing to his humanity to please
instruct the State Department to do what is right and to label the Boko
Haram group an FTO.”
Justifying
its call for the labeling of Boko Haram as a terrorist group, CANAN
said such a move would send a warning signal to those financing and
supporting the terrorists, that the game is up.
It
said without such global intervention, Boko Haram financiers and
supporters are being dangerously awarded a grant of impunity!
“We
had warned that Boko Haram would continue its tradition of killing
Nigerian Christians on Christmas day. Last week marked the third
straight year that the terror group has murdered Nigerian Christians in
the church on a Christmas day.
“But
the problem is worse than that. This year (2012) alone Boko Haram has
killed almost 800 Nigerians, most of whom are Christians. In the last
three years, over 3000 have been sent to tragic deaths. Victims also
include people from several other countries.”
The
group said President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan had again over the weekend
acknowledged his government’s inability to contain the Boko Haram
menace. Quoting the Associated Press, CANAN said Jonathan’s remarks
offer a glimpse into “the worried leader’s mind as his weak government
remains unable to stop attacks by the Boko Haram.”
“Our
government in Washington DC, especially the White House and the State
Department are fully aware of what is going on. But both President
Barack Obama and outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have simply
tolerated this impunity by their inaction.
“Already,
American citizens have been affected, and the United Nations building
in Abuja has been attacked by these terrorists. The US Congress has
affirmed that Boko Haram is a threat to the US, especially with the
group’s suspected links to al-Qaeda,” it said.
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