Nigerian Christians set up relief fund for Boko Haram victims

he Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) joined forces
with the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans
(CANAN) on Monday (March 4) to set up a relief fund for
victims of the Boko Haram group.
In a news briefing held in the capital Abuja, James Fadele,
chairman of CANAN, said urgent action was needed to
stop the attacks in northern Nigeria.
"Christians are being killed, churches are being attacked
and destroyed, health workers and doctors are being
assassinated, markets are being ravaged, police precincts
are being vanquished, and neighbourhoods are being
tormented. Again, this act of wickedness must stop," he
said.
Boko Haram is waging a bloody insurgency against the
state that has killed at least 3,000 people across northern
Nigeria since 2009.
Fadele added that the fund will support family members
and relatives of those who have been attacked by Boko
Haram militants.
"Towards such a fund, CANAN is making an initial
widow's mite contribution of 50,000 dollars. If backers of
terrorists are raising the money to perpetuate acts of
terror, supporters of and advocates of peace can no longer
look the other way," he said.
Eight members of the All Saints Protestant Church in Kano
state died in attacks in February.
"They call that state a Muslim state, that is how they take
it so that is the reason every Christian cannot breath
there because of the, even to go church is hard there, that
is the reason some people, you see them, they can't hold
bible to go to church. unless you are in Sabon Gari (local
town in Kano) but Sharada (local town in Kano) side, you
can't hold bible because they can terminate your life,"
said the pastor of All Saints Protestant Church, Saranda
Chinda.
Western governments fear Boko Haram, or factions of it,
has linked up with other groups in the region, including al
Qaeda's North African franchise.
Attacks in northern Nigeria are increasingly targeting
foreign interests, especially since France's operation last
month to flush Islamists out of northern Mali, to which
Nigeria has committed hundreds of troops.