A Persecution.org report states that a Boko Haram spokesman
officially declared the radical insurgency’s responsibility for the kidnapping
of 243 school girls from a secondary school in Chibok, Northern Nigeria [in
April]. The report details the names and
religious affiliations of 180 of those abducted. Chibok is one of the few remaining Christian
strongholds in Nigeria’s increasingly Islamized North. More than 90% of the 180 known girls have been
identified as Christians [released by the Christian
Association of Nigeria]… confirming allegations that the girls were
specifically targeted for their faith. The
revelation reiterates the specificity with which Boko Haram continues to carry
out its campaign of terror against northern Christian populations in its quest
to establish a separate Islamic state to be ruled by Shariah law.
On Sunday, May 4th, Boko Haram
terrorists reportedly kidnapped 8 more girls.
Boko Haram is known for attacking Christians and government targets
(bombing churches, schools and police stations), and kidnapping western
tourists Violence linked to the Boko
Haram insurgency has resulted in an estimated 10,000 deaths between 2002 and
2013.
Last week, President Obama announced
that Nigeria has accepted an offer of help by the United States, and that a
team has been sent to try to rescue the girls.
“Obviously
it’s a heartbreaking situation, outrageous situation,” President Obama told ABC on Tuesday. “We’ve already sent in a team to Nigeria —
they’ve accepted our help through a combination of military, law enforcement,
and other agencies who are going in, trying to identify where in fact these
girls might be and provide them help,” he added.
Since their abduction, efforts to
get the authorities to release information proved unsuccessful … raising
questions as to why their identities have been shrouded in secrecy. When contacted, the Special Adviser for Media
to the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Isa Gusau, said he could not verify the
list released by the Christian
Association of Nigeria (CAN) … verified
by the police and security forces, Borno State Government, the state Ministry
of Education and the school authorities.
The statement issued by CAN said the kidnapping was premeditated
and particularly targeted at Christians, as Chibok is a predominantly Christian
community. It added that about 90% of
the residents are Christians, while the rest are of the Muslim faith.
Let us pray for Almighty God’s hedge
of protection around these girls; the granting of wisdom to the team from our God
who seeks and saves the lost; and God’s inner peace to those anxious loved ones
who await word of the safe return of their young girls. And may the righteous God exercise the
punishment of justice on these evil terrorists.
Rev.
Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain
(Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel
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