The World Council of Churches and Lutheran World Federation have issued a joint appeal to the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari for his government to better protect the people from attacks made on the basis of their religion.
In a joint letter to the President, Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the WCC, and Rev Dr Martin Junge, general secretary of the LWF, say last week’s execution of Rev Lawan Andimi at the hands of Islamic terror group Boko Haram is one of the latest atrocities in a “long and painful history of extremist violence in the region and despite the proclaimed defeat of the insurgents, impels us to convey this appeal to you.”
“If the clergy are targeted, ordinary community members are even more at risk,” they state in the letter.
Alongside the execution of Rev Andimi, the two leaders point to other recent incidents of violence including the reported murder of Rev Denis Bagauri, of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, by unknown gunmen at his home in Adamawa state on 19th January and the execution of 22-year-old university student Ropvil Daciya Dalep following his abduction on 9th January – describing the latter as “the latest emblematic example of the unrelenting brutality of the extremists”.
“We condemn all such senseless killings and attacks on people – Christians and Muslims alike – on the basis of their religious identity and beliefs as intolerable and unacceptable.”
Tveit and Junge note that while the Nigerian Government claims to have defeated Boko Haram, “attacks, kidnappings, extortion, sectarian killings, rapes and the abduction of young girls by these and other extremist groups continues unabated”.
“Indeed, the intensity of such attacks has increased markedly in recent weeks,” they say in the letter. “Faith in the commitment and effectiveness of your government for the protection of Nigerian citizens belonging to these targeted communities has reached a very low ebb.”
The letter appeals to the government to protect its citizens, “regardless of religious affiliation or belief”, as well as reform the security apparatus.
“We also appeal urgently to you to ensure the release of Leah Sharibu, and the hundreds of other victims who are in Boko Haram and ISWAP captivity before it is too late and they suffer the same fate as Rev Andimi,” the two leaders say in conclusion.
“We believe that the current situation in Nigeria requires resolute leadership on your part to end these atrocities, and to satisfy all Nigerians that your government genuinely has their interests at heart, through effective action and not only words. The risks for the future of Nigeria in the absence of such leadership and action are grave.”
