ICC Note:
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked the Nigerian government to tai the necessary steps to investigate the backing of Boko Haram and other Islamic extremist groups currently operating in northern Nigeria. Since the new year, CAN claims that over 100 Christians have been murdered by Islamic extremist in one state in Nigeria. According to CAN, these groups are using more sophisticated weapons when they attack Christian villages, churches and homes. Will Nigeria be able to protect its Christians? 
2/13/2014 Nigeria (World Stage) – The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Wednesday asked the Federal Government to investigate the sources of the increasing sophisticated weapons and ammunition being deployed by Boko Haram, gunmen and Fulani herdsmen in the northern part of the country.
CAN in a communiqué read by its General Secretary, Rev. Musa Asake after this year’s first National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, said President Goodluck Jonathan government should also move a step further and expose their sponsors.
The Christian national body noted that from Borno, Yobe and Adamawa to Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, and Kaduna states, the gory stories of killings through sporadic shootings, burning of Christian houses and their churches remain the same, and the situation was getting worse by the day.
Giving its account, CAN said in Plateau State alone, it recorded death of over 100 Christians in one month between January 6, and February 6, this year.
CAN also expressed grave concern about “the insecurity challenges that have continued to face us as a nation and Christians in particular in our dear country, Nigeria.”
According to CAN, at the time Nigerians should be enjoying peace through articulated and sustained security programs, the scourge of Boko Haram, gunmen and Fulani herdsmen have continued to pose serious security problems to Christians, particularly those living in the northern part of Nigeria.
It said, “As Fulani Herdsmen get increasingly sophisticated with each attack, National Executive Committee of CAN call on the federal government to investigate the source of the weapons and ammunitions used by the Boko Haram, gunmen and Fulani herdsmen in their various attacks and also to expose their sponsors.
“CAN recorded the death of over 100 Christians in one month, between January 6 and February 6 this year. It noted that no fewer than 30 people sustained various degrees of injuries. Recently, these evil men disguised as soldiers, went inside a Catholic Church, while the church was in session, locked the doors and killed the worshipers.”
It also called on the Federal Government to come up with efficient and enduring system to nip the Boko Haram insurgency, gunmen and Fulani herdsmen challenge in the bud, because they believe that the three agents of evil are a carefully planed and executed agenda against Christians, using simultaneous approaches.
It said, “The federal government should come up with an efficient and enduring system that can overwhelm the resurgence of Boko Haram, gunmen and Falani herdsmen who are prowling villages, shooting and killing innocent Christians and that at a time we should have been enjoying peace through articulated and sustained security programmes, the scourge of Boko Haram, gunmen and Fulani herdsmen has continued to pose serious problems to Christians, particularly those living in the northern part of Nigeria.
“In particular, we want the Federal Government to investigate the killing of the Kankia Pastor who was murdered in cold blood on allegation that a corpse was found near his house. It called the arrest and prosecution of those found to have taken part in the dastardly act. Government to investigate recent unprovoked attacks on hitherto peaceful communities in Plateau, Kaduna, Benue and Katsina States without further delay.”
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