Boko Haram bombed this market in Nigeria in early 2012. - AP pic

By Trevor Grundy, 

CJA-UK member

Speaking at the Church of England General Synod at Church House in London in response to a motion expressing concern about the plight of Christians in Nigeria, Dr Williams urged the British Government to do everything possible to support those in the West African state seeking to protect religious minorities of all faiths.

“We are talking in Nigeria not simply about a few incidents of inter-faith conflict – that is an easy strapline so to speak – we are talking about a threatened disintegration of a society under pressure from one of the most extreme Islamist organisations in the world in the shape of Boko Haram,” the leader of the world’s 77-million strong Anglican communion declared.

He was responding to a motion which said: “That this Synod, gravely concerned at the desperate plight of Christian communities in parts of  Nigeria . . . request the British Government to do all it can to support those in Nigeria seeking to protest religious minorities of all faiths and enable them to practise their religion without fear.”

The Bishop of Durham, Justin Welby, recently returned from visiting the oil-rich West African country where he held talks with leaders of religious communities on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury. He described Boko Haram as a very violent organisation which had some support from unnamed political leaders in northern Nigeria. It killed Muslims as well as Christians. “We call for support for the various determined people of Nigeria and that our government help them where they seek help,” he said.

Canon Christopher Sugden (Oxford) suggested that “leverage of trade and investment must be used to safeguard freedom of worship.” He added that “the violent oppression of Christian minorities is becoming the norm in some countries and there is a conspiracy of silence about it.”

Archbishop Sentamu urged maintenanceof links with threatened communities.

Both the archbishops of Canterbury and York (Uganda-born Dr John Sentamu) spoke about the worsening situation inside Nigeria and underlined the importance of maintaining links with threatened communities.

Fears of infiltration of security services

A report by Jonathan Clayton in The Times (23 January 2012) told how explosions rocked the commercial centre of the largely Muslim northern city of Kano. He said the attack as worshippers were heading for evening prayers was the deadliest so far in a campaign of terror by Boko Haram, saying: “If proof was needed that Boko Haram is now a fully paid-up member of the terror club, there was plenty in Kano this weekend. The city was like a war zone.” On Christmas Day (2011) Boko Haram killed 44 people at a church and ordered Christians to leave the area. The group had apparently spared Muslims until the latest attack but had made it clear that Muslims in local and federal government could also be targeted.

The paper’s Africa Editor said:  “There are fears that Boko Haram have now infiltrated parts of the security services. Last week, the main suspect for the Christmas Day massacre escaped from custody a day after being arrested.” The terror group has no shortage of money or weapons. Said Clayton: “More worryingly for the (Nigerian) government, it (Boko Haram) has plenty of new recruits from the legions of unemployed, impoverished youths in northern Nigeria, a country with one of the fastest-growing populations in the world.”

(The Church of England’s General Synod was held at Church House, London between 6-9 February 2012)