World 21/08/12 Catholic official wary of extremists' surrender in Nigeria

[성기화 요셉]

Catholic official wary of extremists' surrender in Nigeria

Government troops handed out food and clothes to Boko Haram extremists who laid down their weapons

Peter Ajayi Dada, Catholic News Service 

Published: August 14, 2021 08:13 AM GMT ▾

Trending

1

Never forget the tragedy unfolding in Hong KongAug 17, 2021

2

Jesuits suspend Afghan mission as nuns wait for evacuationAug 17, 2021

3

Church steps up Covid-19 testing in Myanmar campsAug 16, 2021

4

Thailand's saffron scandals undermine trust in BuddhismAug 17, 2021

5

Timor-Leste looks to open first Catholic university this yearAug 16, 2021

6

Taliban gains worry Pakistan Church officials Aug 16, 2021

7

Filipino Jesuit philosopher-priest dies at 96Aug 16, 2021

8

India's Syro-Malabar Church remains divided over Mass Aug 17, 2021

9

Two nuns killed in South Sudan after vehicle ambushAug 18, 2021

10

The most powerful weapon against Covid-19Aug 16, 2021

Soldiers stood guard in front of the school in Chibok, Nigeria, where 276 girls were abducted in 2014. (Photo: wsj.com)

As at least 1,000 Boko Haram extremists laid down their weapons and asked for forgiveness, a spokesman for the Catholic bishops urged citizens to be cautious in what they believe.

"It is very difficult for any right-thinking person to believe the government is sincere about this whole development," Father Mike Umoh, director of communications for the Nigerian bishops' conference, said Aug. 12.

Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu released photos Aug. 9 of men holding placards asking for forgiveness and said Boko Haram's chief bomb expert and his deputy were among those who turned themselves in.

Donate to UCA News with a monthly contribution of your choice

He also said hundreds of women and children from the militants' families also surrendered. Among them were two of the 276 girls kidnapped in 2014 from the Chibok school; that kidnapping led to the #BringBackOurGirls campaign.

Media reported that Nigerian government troops handed out food and clothes to those who surrendered.

But Father Umoh was critical, saying the move showed sympathy to a group "that has claimed thousands of lives of Nigerians and is still claiming many more."

Some analysts says the extremists are surrendering because of a split with the Islamic State West Africa Province insurgents

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports 35,000 people have been killed in Nigeria since 2009, when Boko Haram launched its campaign to overthrow Nigeria's secular government. Nearly 2 million people remain displaced by the fighting. The group also is active in Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon.

Some analysts says the extremists are surrendering because of a split with the Islamic State West Africa Province insurgents.

Father Umoh asked if so many members of the militant group had repented, who were those still attacking innocent Nigerians and holding many hostage for ransom?

Bishop John Afareha of Warri said the current insecurity and killings throughout Nigeria were nothing but a battle between God and Satan, and he urged Christians to pray. The bishop said almost all the regions in Nigeria seemed to be surrounded by "unknown gunmen" who continued to take innocent lives at will.

Related News

-

Pope Francis in plea over kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls

Nigerian bishops oppose investment in helping Boko Haram members

Kidnapped Nigerian priest released after colleague's murder

Burkina Faso bishop deplores village attack that left 160 dead