Nigeria: Pastor decries killings by Boko Haram

Thursday, September 3, 2015

By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) - A bishop of the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria said that Boko Haram has killed thousands of his denomination's members, destroyed most of his churches and left many of his pastors without a congregation, according to the Christian Post.

"Seventy percent of our churches have been destroyed in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states by Boko Haram," said the Rev. Samuel Dali. "Over 8,000 of our members were killed [and] one hundred and seventy-six of the girls kidnapped in Chibok are our members."

Boko Haram has been fighting for control of Nigeria's northeast as its jihadists continue to kill and kidnap hundreds of women and children.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari had previously promised that Boko Haram would soon be defeated.

"The end to [the] Boko Haram insurgency is also imminent," said Femi Adesina, special media adviser to Buhari. "The president is working assiduously to achieve that soon, just as he promised."

Adesina admitted that Buhari's promised deadline to defeat Boko Haram by July has been moved back to December.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide described Boko Haram as a "death cult" and has urged world leaders to help stop it.

"Despite its pseudo-religious pronouncements, with every atrocity Boko Haram illustrates it is no more than a death cult that indoctrinates members to kill without conscience, regardless of the creed espoused by its victims."