Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Jos, Nigeria, has appealed to the international community for help in preventing increasing attacks by the local terrorist group Boko Haram.
Three separate attacks have taken place in the state of Borno, claiming the lives of an estimated 135 civilians since Wednesday.
In an interview with Vatican Radio, Archbishop Kaigama pleaded for aid in tracking where the Islamic extremist group receives its funding and arms to carry out such attacks.
Violence in Nigeria, he said, is “growing in destructive proportion” and it is increasing in “sophistication.”
“Boko Haram continues to kill people like animals. I don’t know for what motive. They say it is about religion but I ask: which kind of civilized religion will kill people so aimlessly,” he said.
The Nigerian prelate said that he initially believed their attacks were solely aimed at Christianity, due to numerous bombings and shootings at Churches around the country. But now, he lamented, “their destruction is aimless.
“They kill young people, they kill women, they kill children. Anybody in sight. It is horrendous,” the Archbishop told Vatican Radio.
“We keep praying that God will create in these people a change of heart. We keep praying especially in this Passion week that the Passion for Christ be a reason for these people to know that human life is sacred and they should not kill for any reason.”
Archbishop Kaigama also noted the sophistication in their attacks, speculating that Boko Haram is receiving financial and military funding from either local or international entities. He also expressed fears that the terrorist group could have political ambitions in the future – a situation, he said, that would place all of Africa in jeopardy.
The Archbishop of Jos appealed to world leaders to offer intelligence services to uncover who is funding Boko Haram’s chaos in the country. (J.A.E.)
