Boko Haram: Why Christians and Muslims should stick together

“We attacked the Baga Fish market in Maiduguri on Monday in revenge on the traders there, for assisting the military in killing one of our members”, Qaqa, Boko Haram.

The Boko Haram sect has continuously being daring and hunting the patience of Nigerians like a pride of lions hunting an innocent antelope at a quiet stream.
They have held on to their philosophy to threaten, create chaos, maim, destroy, plunder and kill any Nigerian they feel deserves to die. They are the cast, audience, and reviewers of their isolated movement.

Their recent deadly attack on Monday, February 20 at the Fish Market along Baga Road in Maiduguri, which they termed as vengeance against the innocent traders, has given credence to the fact that they have no regard for human lives.

They have no respect for either Christians or Muslims. That attack killed over thirty innocent persons including, women, children and disadvantaged persons.
Nigerians must not be intimidated, overwhelmed or coerced by the deadly terrorist acts of the Boko Haram sect. Those who condemn them get threatened and killed, those who do not still get threatened and killed.

Nobody at this stage feels safe. Safety will be our abilities to gather information and give to the Joint Task Force (JTF) at this present hour.
Nigeria is too big to be intimidated by a group of people who believe that their ideology overrules every other person, including the Nigerian constitution. The world is watching how we handle this ongoing war.

They have killed pastors, imams, soldiers, policemen, and are not willing to sheathe their swords of pains. One thing is certain as written in the Nigerian constitution, “We the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, having firmly and solemnly resolve, to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under God” that they cannot create war among Nigerians.

They cannot even create war between Christians and Muslims. Their recent activities have only given reason to Christians and Muslims why they should stick together and know who their real enemies are.

Qaqa has said that their attack was a revenge against the traders for providing helpful information to the military. But the traders and others should not be intimidated by such words rather they should be encouraged to provide more useful tips to the JTF, not the police.

The police cannot be trusted. And the government should ensure the security of the market, the protection of every Nigerian and foreigner residing within the territory of the Nigerian nation and avoid a repeat of the death of foreigners when the United Nations building was deadly bombed.
The JTF needs more support and information now than ever to overcome the deadly attacks by the Boko haram sect.

•Efemena Agadama, an activist wrote from London, United Kingdom.