Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Boko Haram kidnap dozens in attack on village

Boko Haram kidnap dozens in attack on village

Last updated on: August 23, 2014 at 9:37 pm by CNA Daily News

Boko Haram kidnap dozens in attack on village 2014-08-23T21:37:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Maiduguri, Nigeria, Aug 23, 2014 / 03:37 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Locals in Baga, Nigeria say the town is one of the latest targets of Boko Haram’s attacks, while a group of soldiers say they will not fight the militants until they have more adequate equipment.

Residents of the isolated village on the shore of Lake Chad in Borno, Nigeria's northeasternmost state, told the BBC that the radical Islamist group swept through on Aug. 10, killing 26 people and kidnapping 50 others.

According to their reports, villagers tried to fight off the attackers but were unsuccessful. Boko Haram then burnt down houses and abducted a group of 50 people made up of mostly women and children.

Baga was also the scene of an April, 2013 massacre in which some 200 villagers were killed and 2,000 homes and businesses destroyed. Villagers claimed that the massacre was carried out by the Nigerian military, while the Nigerian military in turn blamed Boko Haram.

Boko Haram, which means “Western education is sinful”, began using military force in 2009 to impose sharia law on Nigeria. It has targeted security forces, politicians, Christian minorities, and moderate Muslims in Nigeria’s predominately Muslim north.

Boko Haram gained international attention in April when it claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of nearly 300 teenaged school girls, the majority of whom are still missing.

Nigeria's government has proven unable to counter the insurgents, and on Aug. 19 a group 40 of soldiers said that they will not face the insurgents until they’ve received more adequate equipment.

“The Nigerian army is not ready to fight Boko Haram,” one soldier told the BBC. “Soldiers are dying like fowl.”

Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Jos voiced similar concerns speaking to Aid to the Church in Need. He told the charity July 31 that there are “serious sympathizers” of the Islamist group “both in and outside Nigeria,” but “up to now our government has not been able to smoke them out … there should be ways to trace financing and other forms of support, but I don’t believe that our government is making this a top priority.”

“Despite lots of money spent by our government and the military, answers are still grossly lacking.”

The militants seized the riot police training academy for Borno state Aug. 20. It is located near Gwoza, a city of 50,000, which Boko Haram has held control of since the beginning of the month – attempts by the Nigerian military to retake the city have failed.

The academy is one of two in Nigeria, and Boko Haram have likely found weapons there, according to Mahmud Lalo of BBC Hausa.

In his interview with Aid to the Church in Need, Archbishop Kaigama added that “at first we thought that (Boko Haram) were simply against Western education and wanted to propagate what they believed was the authentic message of Islam … then they went after the government, and next came the churches.”

The archbishop has stressed the importance of remaining present to his people even as the threat of Boko Haram looms.

“We believe God is with us. We believe that we will triumph despite the machinations of the evildoers.”

He also noted that both Christians and Muslims have been victims of the militant group’s attacks.

“We must not forget that Muslim places of worship have also been targets. The repeated attacks in Kano and Kaduna show that the fight has gone beyond the religions of Islam and Christianity. In fact, many Muslims and Christians of good will are speaking a common language now and are exploring ways to bring an end to this menace.”

Boko Haram’s attacks have killed thousands since 2009, including at least 2,000 in 2014 alone. The UN estimates that the attacks have led to more than 470,000 internally displaced persons, and some 57,000 refugees.

Middle East - Africa

Previous Post

August 23, 2014

Dawkins misses joy of those with Down syndrome, critics say

Next Post

August 24, 2014 Pope Francis challenges with question: How is your faith?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Tabernacle" mean?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Dwelling place Sacrifice Holy altar Cupboard