The Christian Elders Forum of Northern States (NOSCEF) has called on government officials and influential Nigerians not to further fuel the ongoing Southern Kaduna killings with their utterances.
The body, in a statement by its national chairman, Elder Olaiya Phillips and secretary, Patrick Ambut, cautioned all Nigerians “to moderate our language so as not to deepen the fault lines that have brought us to this precipe.”
NOSCEF lamented the needless destruction of lives and property in the affected communities, calling on the warring parties to sheathe their swords.
It said: “If new gaping wounds are opened and allowed to fester, we are merely preparing the ground for future descent into darkness that will serve no one well.”
The body called on parties in the crisis to embrace peace, saying “the savagery that accompanied these latest incidents is a warning of what could happen if we do not gird our loins in pursuit of lasting peaceful solutions.”
It called on government to provide camps for the over 30,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as well as offer them relief materials to mitigate their suffering.
According to NOSCEF, all stakeholders must “redirect the narrative of northern Nigeria towards rebirth of values that powered an independent Nigeria; rather than leaving the road clear for those that would hijack our story while it is still unfolding.”
Tag: NOSCEF
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NOSCEF sues for peace in Southern Kaduna
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NOSCEF gets new executives
The Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) has elected new executives to run its affairs for the next three years.
The induction took place last week in Kaduna.
The newly elected executives include Elder Olaiya Phillips as chairman, Dr. Luka Lobadungze, vice chairman, Elder Patrick Ambut as secretary and Mika Haruna as assistant secretary.
Others are Yabuku Dauda as auditor, Prof. Nuhu Gworgwor, treasurer, Mr. James Sakaba as secretary and Barrister Morris Odeh, legal adviser.
Also in the new executives are Oibe as PRO, Pastor Sunday Akpan, welfare and Engineer Sule Kilang as securty officer.
In his acceptance speech titled the road ahead, Phillips said the group has been remorseless in advocacy for fairness, justice and equality for all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliations.
According to him: “We have sought broad consultations across and among Northern Christians and elders.
“We have made our voices heard through regular public assessments of the state of the nation.
“In all we have done, we have sought to be a strong voice for the Northern Christian community; guided by the values of fairness, justice and equality.”
He however stated there is much more to be done in the next three years.
NOSCEF, according to him, needs a befitting secretariat to better coordinate its activities.
This project, among others, Phillips requires unity in the body of Christ.
“Unity is the bedrock upon which we must build. Only when we speak with one voice can we expect the Christian voice to be heard and taken account of.
“We must rediscover that unity that once empowered us to fully realize our latent strength.
“For our unity to be manifest, we must build it with strong foundations from the bottom up.
“If at local government level we are seen to speak as Christians, in spite of our denominations, we will be setting the tone for how we engage in our state and national interfaces,” Phillips added.
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Nigerians must unite to fight terror
Chair of the Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF), Elder Olaiya Phillips, has condemned Friday’s triple explosions that killed over 120 people and left many others injured at the Kano Central Mosque.
He consoled with the state government and victims as well as their families on the tragedy.
Olaiya, in a statement yesterday, said: “Friday’s attack on The Great Mosque in Kano exemplifies Boko Haram’s savagery, irreverence and brutality.
“On behalf of the Northern Christian Elders Forum – and the Northern Christian community – I offer my sincerest condolences to the victims and their families. We too feel your suffering, as we too have lost loved ones.”
He called on Nigerians to unite to fight the terror war, warning that it was getting out of hands. “We must stand united. Northerners and Southerners, animists, Christians and Muslims must unite.
“Igbo, Yoruba, Fulani, Efik, Ijaw, Hausa, Kanuri, Tiv, Edo, Ibibio… every ethnic group, religion and region that makes Nigeria. It is up to us.”
Though Nigeria is pressed, Olaiya assured the nation will not go under.
“Our foundations are shaking. But although we have taken many blows, we are still standing. “United we stand, divided we fall. And as long as we remain united and keep fighting together, we will remain strong and standing. We will remain Nigeria.”
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Northern Christian monarchs brainstorm for peace
Christian traditional rulers in northern states have vowed to do everything within their powers to endanger peace and foster peaceful coexistence in their domains.
They said the terror war in the region was lamentable, stating that it requires collective efforts to bring the much-coveted peace back to the north.
Islamic fundamentalism, they said, was alien to the north and employed by desperate politicians to feather their nests.
The monarch pledged to intensify prayers and consensus building among their subjects with a view to ushering in peace for socio-economic development.
These were some of the resolutions last week when the traditional rulers drawn from many parts of the north met in Makurdi, the capital of Benue, for parley organised by the Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF).
Welcoming the royal fathers to the parley, NOSCEF’s chair, Elder Olaiya Phillips, said it was necessary to bring them into the search for peace in their domains because they wield massive influence in the communities.
He condemned the wanton destruction of lives in the north, saying the situation was becoming unbearable, especially for Christians.
According to him: “It feels like our faith and patience are tried on a daily basis with each coming day bringing yet more news of violent atrocities being inflicted upon our community.
“But it is only as a community that we will be able to confront and overcome these trials and challenges.”
He said it was imperative for the royal fathers to brainstorm and come up with ingenious ways of restoring peace and prosperity to their terror-filled communities.
Governor Gabriel Suswam said the fact that Christian traditional rulers have woken up to be agents of peace was a welcome development.
He said their intervention in the search for peace would bring about massive changes and positive development.
Suswam, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr David Salifu, said the monarchs have to be ready to sacrifice their personal comforts for the collective interests.
According to him: “Our traditional rulers should think they are comfortable there because when Christians are massacred, they won’t be spared.”
Rising from a closed-door meeting that lasted for over two hours, the monarchs resolved to return to their domains to preach peace and tolerance.
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‘2015 elections will be peaceful’
Elder Olaiya Phillips is the chairman of Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF). He spoke with Sunday Oguntola on the numerous challenges facing Christians in the north and the raging terror war. Excerpts:
NOSCEF has always alleged northern Christians are marginalised. What are some of these marginalisations? Also, are there documents or evidence to prove these?
All NOSCEF did was to highlight the overwhelming body of evidence provided by various independent bodies and organisations.
I would refer you to the observations made by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in their 2014 Annual Report. The report recognisesd that “Christian leaders in the northern states protest northern state governments’ discrimination against Christians in the denial of applications to build or repair places of worship, access to education and state-run media, representation in government bodies, and government employment.”
The USCIRF’s findings also correspond with the conclusions of the report produced in 2012 by the Presidential Committee on the Security Challenges in the Northeast. The committee alleged neglect and a lack of concern by some state governments in the North towards Christian minorities, including a disregard for their legitimate rights and demands.
They acknowledged some Northern state governments had deliberately denied the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy to churches and prevented the teaching of Christian Religious Studies in schools alongside Islamic Religious Studies. Their report also found evidence to suggest politicians had set up private militias in the run-up to the 2003 general elections to intimidate political opponents and voters.
It alleged that, following the elections, and having achieved their primary purpose, the politicians cut their ties to these militias who then gravitated towards religious extremism and groups such as Boko Haram.
In addition, in a December 2013 report, “‘Leave Everything to God’: Accountability for Inter-Communal Violence in Plateau and Kaduna States” Human Rights Watch analysed the pattern of violence that has engulfed the two aforementioned states since 2010. The report documented how a lack of accountability for communal violence and mass murder had led to preventable cycles of violence and reprisal killings in those states.
Are you pleased with the anti-terror war?
I am not sure how anyone could be ‘pleased’ with the Federal and State Government’s continuing war against Boko Haram’s brand of terrorism. I am certainly not ‘pleased’ that an anti-terror war is necessary.
Am I pleased that children continue to be kidnapped and murdered? No. Am I pleased that whole communities, particularly communities with significant Christian populations in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe have been forced to leave behind their homes, business and belongings? No. Am I pleased there has not been a day that has gone by this year, that the report of yet another horrific attack has occurred against innocent civilians across Northern Nigeria? No.
The only benefit I can see is that the Nigerian public is now more aware than ever of the atrocious crimes committed by Boko Haram against innocent Nigerians of all religions and the persistent discrimination that Northern Christians face on a daily basis. We cannot ignore their evil brand of Islamic extremism any longer. Nigeria must face up to this task, defeat Boko Haram and end the discrimination of minorities.
Boko Haram seems to be making serious strides lately, even declaring a caliphate in some parts of the north. Why do you think the sect appears unbeatable?
Boko Haram is not unbeatable and I haven’t heard anyone other than their supporters and sympathisers suggest otherwise.
The rise of Boko Haram must be placed in a wider historical context of the organisation. When President Goodluck Jonathan introduced the State of Emergency following a wave of Boko Haram attacks at the end of 2011, the military succeeded in suppressing the group’s activity.
You will remember that at the time the group was able to commit terrorist atrocities in major cities across the north of the country, including Abuja, Bauchi, Damaturu, Kano, Gombe, Jos and Yola. Following the military surge, the group’0s activities were limited to the three most North-Eastern States in which they operate to this day.
But then Boko Haram changed strategy. Instead of large scale attack on urban centres, they began attacking remote communities in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. They focused on communities that were home to populations of Christians and moderate Muslims in their attempt to convert or kill those who did not agree with their extremist beliefs.
Despite the military’s early successes they were unprepared to cope with Boko Haram’s hit- and- run tactics and have since struggled to mount a successful counter insurgency campaign.
This is part of a wider phenomenon of global Islamic terrorists employing vicious and horrendous methods to slaughter innocent people who refuse to yield to their doctrine. Boko Haram, Al Shabab, the Islamic State and the Taliban – this is a global problem that threatens the security of many, if not all nations.
How soon will NOSCEF be in a position to recommend certified candidates for elections?
NOSCEF was formed to provide a strong voice and powerful vehicle for the Northern Christian community and their support for the values of justice, equality and fairness. It has become increasingly apparent to both NOSCEF and our members that there are very few politicians who are willing to speak up for the Northern Christian community or the values we believe in.
For years, NOSCEF has been increasingly vocal in drawing the nation’s – and in particular both State and National level politicians’ – attention to the increasing discrimination and victimisation of the Northern Christian community.
Yet hardly a word has been uttered on the subject on the floors of both Houses of the National Assembly. The mere mention of the blatant political persecution of the Christian community in States such as Adamawa, Borno or Yobe is met with disregard and contempt from the Governors’ spokespeople.
We have come to the realisation, that although we can give our community a voice, we cannot make our politicians listen. We will therefore be actively supporting candidates of various political parties in 2015 who will finally stand up for the Northern Christian community.
Should religion determine who rules Nigeria come 2015?
I am sure many NOSCEF members will have a preference on who they want to vote for next year, we encourage all our members to join us in supporting political parties and candidates that will speak up for our community and demonstrate a commitment to our organisation’s values of justice, equality and fairness. The presidential candidate who is best able to do this will be receiving NOCSEF’s support.
Do you fear that Christianity might be wiped out in the north in no distant time going by the insurgency?
Abubakar Shekau, the leader and spokesperson of Boko Haram, has consistently stated that the group’s primary target is the Christian community. In addition, the group has been actively encouraging other Muslims to join their campaign of violence against Christians in their local communities.
Boko Haram’s crimes – and the surge of refugees they have created – have spread a wave of instability across Northern Nigeria and the country as a whole. Tensions have risen within communities – from East to West, from the North, slowly creeping South – as extremists answer their call to join their campaign of jihad.
Approximately six months ago, NOSCEF members in Taraba State – more than 500kms from the violence in the North-East – began to raise concerns following the arrival of a sudden and unprecedented influx of people from outside the region who gave the appearance of cattle herders.
Unlike the cattle herders they are accustomed to, this new group travelled without family, arrived outside of the normal seasonal movements and were armed with sophisticated weaponry. Shortly after their arrival, attacks against Christians increased.
Since January this year there have been numerous reports of violence in Taraba State against the Christian population at the hands of heavily armed Islamic extremists. Hundreds of members of that Christian community have been murdered and thousands more forced from their homes. The Islamist extremists destroyed their villages, their farms and their churches.
While the nation’s current focus is quite rightly on vile criminals such as Boko Haram and the disgusting atrocities they commit, we must not underestimate how much danger a sectarian conflict across Northern Nigeria poses.
Religious minorities can no longer suffer while their rights are violated. NOSCEF cannot remain silent while Northern Christians endure persecution. We must bring an end to the persecutions of Northern Christians before our community is consigned to the pages of history.
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NOSCEF frowns at skewed religious demographics
THE Chairman of Christian Elders Forum of Northern States (NOSCEF), Mr. Olaiya Phillips, has cautioned against the use of inadequate statistics to create more tensions between Muslims and Christians.
Phillips, who was reacting to an article titled ”U.S.: Nigeria ineffective in quelling violence” in some online publications last week, faulted the attribution of 50% of the nation’s population to Muslims and 40% to Christians.
He described the statistics purportedly generated from the latest United States’ Department of State Report on Religious Freedom as “false and insulting to the Nigerian Christian community.”
Page 67 of the 2014 annual report, Phillips pointed out, stated that “Nigeria’s population of 170 million people is equally divided between Muslims and Christians.”
He also cited the official webpage of the Federal Republic of Nigeria stating that “45% of the population is Christian, 45% Muslim and the rest 10% is a mixture of quite a few indigenous religions.”
The Christian leader said “Accurate Calculations of our exact population – never mind the religious beliefs of our people – are hard enough to come by.
“Research by the Pew Research Centre Forum on Religion and Public Life in 2011 estimated the number of Nigerian Christians to be 80.5m – roughly 50% of the population, which with the 50% of Muslims would not leave any room for the millions of Nigerians who believe in indigenous religions.”
He said citing religious demographic at a time the country is fighting the terror war is a great disservice to national unity.
“Nigerians do give a great importance to religion. Publishing incorrect – or at the very least inaccurate – statistics regarding the country’s demographics at a time when the Boko Haram insurgency in the North is attempting to raise tensions between Christian and Muslim communities, is both insensitive and irresponsible – especially to the communities on the front line of the insurgency in the North,” he stressed.
Phillips stated that Muslims and Christians in Nigeria are evenly populated, saying any attempt to paint one as more populous than the other should be discouraged.
According to him: “We all know that the two largest religious groups in the country are Muslims and Christians – each with their many denominations. Both groups are roughly the same size. This we know and should remember.
“But the reporting of incorrect or inaccurate information only helps to drive wedges between our communities. This is exactly what Boko Haram wants.”
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NOSCEF rises against terror
Hemmed on all sides by terror attacks, Christian leaders and traditional rulers met in Abuja last week to chart the path of peace, reports Sunday Oguntola
They came with anguished hearts and dampened spirits. They had been bruised, battered and brutalised. But there was a glimmer of hope in their strides and eyes as they walked into the Ecumenical Centre, Abuja last week. It was at the national conference of the Christian Elders Forum of Northern States (NOSCEF) where they had been invited to deliberate on the ceaseless attacks against their communities.
Some of them were ordinary northerners; some community leaders. They were also traditional rulers, policy makers, church leaders and leaders of interest groups from the north. Their mission was simple: compare notes on their attacks against them and devise means of getting peace at all costs. This was the atmosphere at the Christian centre last week.
NOSCEF’s chair, Olaiya Philips, welcomed the delegates to the conference, saying it was most timely and strategic to endanger peace in the troubled northern states. “We need to come together and provide a strong voice for our communities. We need everyone on board,” he charged.
From Borno with fear
To get a firsthand experience of how badly the terror war has affected the north, Prof. Nuhu Gworgwor, recounted how the insurgents have practically taken over the whole of Borno State. The villages and hinterland communities, he pointed out, have been raided, razed and deserted by locals. Of the five roads that lead to Maiduguri, he said, only the Damaturu road remains accessible. The others, according to him, have been overrun by terrorists, making them impassable for residents and travellers.
“The moment they take it, we are completely siege off and anything can happen to us,” he warned. On the modus operandi of the Boko Haram sect, he said: “They send us notices and when they come, they won’t be protection for us. Our freedom to free worship has been contained. We are all terrified”.
He lamented that churches might no longer open for services in Borno State, going by the numerous attacks against them. He solicited for government’s support to arrest the tide and prayers of all believers to scale through the stormy challenges.
Forgiving the attackers
The Secretary for Inter Religious Affairs for the Church of England, Rev. Dr Toby Howarth, who delivered the keynote address, called on Christians never to retaliate the many attacks against them. Forgiveness, he counselled, is critical to winning the terror war. Using the Egypt’s experience as an example, he said the country is still standing because Christians have refused to retaliate in the face of needless provocations.
“We must never strike back. That is the way of Christ. That is what Jesus did himself. We must refuse to retaliate because that will give the attackers enough reasons to do even much worse,” Howarth began. “We must tell our kids that they must not hate because the way of Christ is the way of love.”
Admitting this could be tough in the face of ceaseless attacks, he pointed out that Christians worldwide are praying for their Nigerian counterparts to pull through and demonstrate their faith in the face of strongest oppositions. “God is with you. Jesus knows about your persecution and challenges. He won’t leave you and we are praying for us. That is the best anybody can do in this circumstance,” he added.
Combining force and dialogue
Olaiya, in his speech, called for application of maximum force and dialogue to resolve the nagging terror war. According to him: “The army must start putting effective pressure on Boko Haram to stop the massacres. They should stop being timid and harness military, intelligence and police support. With the situation so dire, our communities need all the help we can get.
“They need to use the mailed fist of force to put the killers on the back foot. At the same time, they need to reach out with the hand of peace to end this conflict for good in the way that Jesus taught us.”
This combination, he assured, will win the terror war. He also said every Nigerian must raise their voices against increased violence across the nation. “It’s time to stand up and speak out. It’s time we stood up and spoke out – about the importance of religious values and the religious freedoms of our people.
“Time we stood up and spoke out – about the importance of protecting minorities from persecution. Time we stood up and spoke out – about the provision of equal access to education, healthcare and justice for all Nigerians.
“Time we stood up and spoke out – about preserving the secular state and the integrity of the nation.
“I do not fear the consequences of taking this approach whatever the controversy, but I do fear the consequences of war without end and terror enduring, for we have seen it for ourselves.”
Olaiya warned: “There is a terrible price to be paid for silence in the face of violence; for apathy in the face of oppression; and for indifference in the face of injustice.”
Winning the terror war
The National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, said the Boko Haram malaise is the current manifestation of a long-standing demon that has been afflicting the soul of northern Nigeria.
Lamenting the thousands of churches and Christians destroyed by the sect, Oritsejafor said every peace-loving Nigerian must be committed to ending the group’s demonic attacks.
To end the insurgency, the CAN’s helmsman said the country must begin to be truthful in its classification and analysis of the sect’s activities. “We must face the truth that Boko Haram underlining ideology is religion. Don’t tell me it is political or poverty because it is not. Until we accept this, we have not started winning the war,” he stated.
He also challenged Muslim cleric, traditional rulers and politicians to engage the sect’s radical ideology with a “superior, stronger ideology that promotes peace”. An ideology, he said, cannot be shut off by guns but a superior ideological orientation. “We need our Muslim brothers to help and engage the insurgents with superior ideologies,” he appealed.
Olaiya announced the formal take-off of the computers for Christians’ project aimed at improving education for northern school children. The initiative, he stated, also include the emergency preparedness and response plan for pre and post-attack responses among churches and Christians.
“While we continue to raise our voices for investment in jobs and businesses – we will provide opportunities for people to learn new skills and trades and start their own businesses.
While we continue to raise our voices for the protection and safety of our community – we will provide assistance in helping our churches prepare for disasters, so that should the worst happen, they will be ready to respond,” he explained.
Traditional rulers from northern communities pledged to serve as peace agents in their localities. The Agom-Adara 111 in Kaduna State, His Royal Highness Dr Maiwada Galadima, said they would stop at nothing to promote peace coexistence among their subjects. The Osana of Keana in Nasarawa State, His Royal Highness Emmanuel Elayo, promised he and his colleagues would form a powerful consensus against violence and attacks in their domains. “Everyone is our subject and we have what it takes to direct them towards the path of peace,” he assured.
The conference ended with the signing of a charter for peace by NOSCEF. The charter appealed to government officials to step up security and called on everyone to collaborate for peaceful coexistence.
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Late Bayero was a peacemaker, says NOSCEF
The Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) has described the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, as a peacemaker.
The group, in a statement by Mr Olaiya Phillips and Barrister Emmanuel Subilim, its chairman and National Secretary respectively said: “He was a widely revered and respected leader of his community, particularly among the Northern Islamic community.
“Time and again, he displayed great courage in opposing the terrorism of Boko Haram, even despite their repeated attempts on his life.”
It added: “The Emir’s influential role as a peacemaker has been vital in preventing Islamic extremism from taking root in both Kano State and Northern Nigeria as a whole.
“His efforts to ease tensions between different ethnic and religious groups will long be remembered.”
While declaring its readiness to work with the new Emir, NOSCEF urged traditional rulers to “follow his path in building a united and harmonious nation.”
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NOSCEF condemns Nyanya blasts
•Opposes parallel courts for Christians, Muslims
The Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) has urged Christians and Muslims to pull together and fight against the destructive activities of radical Islamic sect, Boko Haram.
In its reaction to last Thursday’s bomb blasts at Nyanya Abuja, which left an estimated 30 persons dead and several others wounded, NOSCEF said it was obvious everyone, regardless of religious affinity, has become a target of the terrorists’ attacks.
The chairman of the body, Olaiya Phillips, in a statement on the attack, just 17 days after a similar one in the same spot, said: “It was only two weeks ago that the very same terrorists attacked in exactly the same manner only metres away from the epicentre of Thursday night’s blast.
“Such a vindictive and callous action is the product of Boko Haram’s doctrine of evil. It is a plague that we must stop now.
“Boko Haram’s logic behind such brutal acts of barbarism is to drive a wedge between peaceful Christians and Moslems.
“We cannot allow them to turn us against one another so they can pull our nation apart. We must stand united in opposition against their agenda of violence.
“Boko Haram has once again shown they have no concern for who they target. They will attack Christians and Moslems indiscriminately in their quest to carve out a territory in which they can impose a radical interpretation of their religion.
“They can attack armed security forces, but prefer unarmed civilians. They kill teachers and students equallyin their pursuit to prevent Northern Nigerians from educating themselves. They murder men and women, old and young.
He questioned how the terrorists escaped security watch and succeeded in bombing the same location twice in just two weeks, describing the latest attack as a national tragedy.
According to him: “The bombing was not just a tragedy for the victims and their families – it was a tragedy for Nigeria.
“Nigeria is ashamed that terrorists can return to the scene of their crime to repeat their offence. Nigeria is ashamed that our security forces cannot find more than 200 school girls kidnapped by these perverted criminals.
“Nigeria is ashamed that the continent’s largest economy – with troops providing security in other countries – cannot protect its own citizens.
“NOSCEF demands immediate action from our security services, our Federal Government and our State Governments to: secure our nation’s capital; protect those citizens under threat in the North-East and bring an end to Boko Haram’s reign of terror once and for all”.
The body also voiced his opposition to the introduction of parallel Christian and Muslim legal systems as proposed by a Muslim group, MURIC.
Such proposal, it said, will further balkanise the country and erode its secularism.
Olaiya said: “It is vital for the integrity of the Nigerian state that all Nigerians are equal before the law but MURIC has said that they would be in favour of a segregated legal system so long as Muslims would not have to be subject to Christian courts.
“If our legal system became separated, how could we possibly keep our nation together?
“MURIC has appealed to Nigerian Christians to see them as “partners in progress” but how can NOSCEF support MURIC’s call to divide Nigerian society along religious lines?
“If MURIC really do care very much about the unity of this country – as they claim – then they should abandon their call for parallel Christian and Islamic legal systems and respect the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He went on: “This attempt to undermine the Constitution is the thin edge of the wedge in the process of balkanising Nigeria. The evil terrorist attacks we have seen in our nation’s capital, both this week and last month, are a fatal symptom of this very process.
“NOSCEF agrees with what MURIC said in their statement. There are issues on which both Christians and Muslims agree. We all want good security, regular power supply, good roads, efficient public health delivery system, effective public transport system, qualitative education, end to corruption etc.
“Then let us do as MURIC suggest and address these issues, rather than whip up support for a sectarianised legal system.’’
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North’s Christian elders seeks end to violence
The Northern States’ Christian Elders’ Forum (NOSCEF) has advised the Federal Government to respond well to the spate of killings in the land.
The forum was reacting yesterday to the killing of innocent Nigerians at Nyanya, Abuja.
In a joint statement in Kano by the Chairman and National Secretary of the forum, Olaiya Phillips and Emmanuel Subilim, the forum noted that the attacks lacked logic or justification.
“If the thousands of innocent civilians killed already this year were not enough evidence of Boko Haram’s immoral disregard for the sanctity of human life, then today’s (yesterday’s) atrocities would leave no room for doubt…”