Ebun Francis|
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) on Friday urged the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to declare war on Boko Haram in Sambisa forest instead of harassing innocent Nigerians.
The group also asked Christian leaders in West Africa to counsel “their brothers in Christ” over the threat issued on the continued detention of Leah Sharibu, the only Christian among the schoolgirls abducted in Dapchi, Yobe state.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had last week said there might be a religious war if Sharibu dies in Boko Haram captivity.
But in a statement on Friday, MURIC expressed surprise over how CAN could be ”stoking the fire of war”.
Isha’q Akintola, director of MURIC, in a statement, said the Christian leaders should have declared war on the insurgents and not innocent Nigerians.
According to him, CAN leaders were not only giving cheap popularity to Boko Haram but also playing into the hands of the group.
The statement read in part, ”This LEAH Sharibu incident is Boko Haram’s last card along the same mission and we expect CAN leaders to know better. ‘But CAN cannot. CAN has its own political agenda.”
”We strongly suspect that CAN is deliberately creating a conundrum. Leah Sharibu was abducted. Who abducted her? Boko Haram.
”Muslim leaders have rejected Boko Haram. Muslims are also victims of Boko Haram. CAN now wants war. Against who? Against Muslims. ‘Is it logical? Does it make sense at all?
”CAN is playing into the hands of Boko Haram. It would have made sense if CAN had said, ”Boko Haram has refused to release Leah Sharibu. Therefore we are going after Boko Haram insurgents. Sambisa Forest, here we come.”
The statement also alleged that CAN was complacent with the way people were being killed when Christians leaders were in power.
”So CAN can make noise now because a Muslim is in power? BUT CAN could look the other way when Christians were in power, particularly when the billions were flowing in the immediate past regime and Jerusalem trips were shorter than walks from home to church?” MURIC asked.
”We can understand this particularly now that the pecuniary tap in Aso Rock is dry.”
He pleaded with Christians to “make CAN leadership see reason”.