Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday accused the Boko Haram militant group of attempting to instigate a "religious war" with a string of recent attacks on churches in the heterogeneous African country split between Muslims and Christians.
"The president deplores the renewed targeting by Boko Haram of adherents of a particular religion and urges all lovers of peace and unity to wholly condemn the resurgence of efforts by agents of global terrorism to disunite and destabilize Nigeria by callously instigating violence among religious groups," presidential spokesman Reuben Abati said in a statement.
The president was reacting to Sunday's attacks on churches and a spate of killings in villages near Chibok, the locality where 276 schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in April.
Boko Haram has been blamed for the recent violence around Chibok in the northeastern Borno State.
"President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has received with dismay and consternation reports of yesterday's attacks by Boko Haram on churches in villages near Chibok," the statement read.
In a bid to douse possible tensions between Christians and Muslims following the attacks, Jonathan cautioned citizens against assigning a religious meaning to Boko Haram's latest carnage.
"President Jonathan shares the view of the most learned Islamic leaders and scholars that no true Muslim will resort to the mindless killing of innocent people at any time, especially not during the holy month of Ramadan, to redress any perceived grievance," Abati said in the statement.
"The president believes, therefore, that Sunday's attacks on churches and other similar atrocities by Boko Haram are conclusive proof, if any is still needed, that its leaders and members are thoroughly misguided persons who are only using religion as a cover for their reprehensible crimes against their countrymen and women," he said.
"President Jonathan urges all Nigerians, irrespective of their religious beliefs, to resist this new attempt to undermine the nation's firm and collective resolve to unite in full support of its armed forces and security agencies against the vicious perpetrators of brutal attacks on innocent citizens," Abati added.
The president again pledged the government's commitment to strengthen security across the country.
The statement went on: "The president assures all Nigerians once again that the federal government and national security agencies will continue to intensify ongoing efforts to end Boko Haram's senseless attacks until the terrorists are routed and totally defeated."
"He commiserates with the families and churches that lost loved ones, members and places of worship during Sunday's attacks," it added.
Dozens are believed to have been killed in Borno State when insurgents on Sunday morning stormed the villages of Kwada, Kautikari and some adjoining settlements near Chibok.
According to witnesses, victims were killed in churches which the attackers later set ablaze.
The president said earlier Monday that Nigeria would not be cowed by the threat of terrorism, which, he boasted, had failed to halt the flow of foreign investment into Africa's largest economy.
By Rafiu Ajakaye
englishnews@aa.com.tr
www.aa.com.tr/en
