The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor
Ayo Oristejiafor, has written a letter to the visiting American
Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, expressing CAN’s reservation
on the manner the issues of Boko Haram and related violence by Islamist
groups against Nigerian Christians are being treated by the United
States.
The Letter dated July 7, 2012 which was signed on behalf of
Oristejiafor by Secretary General of CAN, Rev. Musa Asake also described
as inaccurate the 2011 International Religious Freedom report which
catalogued the attacks on Christians and their places of worship by the
Islamic sect.
According to CAN president, “Much to our dismay, the information
contained in our memorandum to the presidential panel on Post-Election
Violence was not included in the 2011 State Department International
Religious Freedom Report. Our memo presented widespread incidents of
violence targeting Christians in 12 northern states in April last year
during the reporting period of the 2011 report.
“Unfortunately the destruction of over 700 churches and the
systematic massacres of hundreds of Christians in 48 hours – the largest
single attack on Christendom in contemporary world history anywhere on
the planet-were not included in your report. Even more surprising, the
report failed to accurately describe the horrific Christmas Day
multi-city church attacks.
“These coordinated attacks on three states, comprising Niger, Plateau
and Yobe, claimed over 60 lives and, for a second consecutive year,
stunned the world. The report merely mentions the Christmas Day church
bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic church in Madalla, then fails to
communicate the scope and significance of the Christmas Day attacks.
“The pernicious persecution, denigration and dehumanisation of
Christians in northern Nigeria especially has been a fact of life for
over a quarter century. It is therefore disconcerting that the US report
addresses it in a speculative tone that undermines the harsh reality of
the masses of orphans and widows left behind.”
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