Can challenges Governor Zulum to provide evidence that Boko Haram has Christian members

CHRISTIAN Association of Nigeria (Can) leaders have challenged Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State to provide evidence to back his recent claims that some members of their faith were Boko Haram insurgents and engage in its terrorist activities.

Last Friday, Governor Zulum has claimed that Boko Haram had Christians among its membership alongside other Africans and some Asians. In a swift rebuttal, however, Can general secretary Joseph Daramola, challenged the governor to provide pictures, videos or any other form of evidence to back this assertion.

Governor Zulum had said: “I’m from Borno State and many of our children are into Boko Haram. They are being sponsored by many people across the world and among Boko Haram, we have white men, Asians, Africans, Muslims and Christians.”

Many Nigerians had since doubted the Zulum’s claim as Boko Haram had consistently identified with Islam and its leader Abubakar Shekau, has also at several times featured in videos speaking Arabic and citing Quranic verses. Mr Daramola cautioned the governor to stop mudslinging, adding that the terror group had shown in several videos where they belonged.

Mr Daramola added: “Anyone who accuses the other must be able to prove it. For the governor to say such, then he must have evidence. Let him post the photo and video evidence on social media of Christians who are Boko Haram members.

“We have seen them in videos carrying flags and identifying themselves, so, let these criminals that the governor knows identify themselves as criminals. Nobody should mud-sling, it is a very bad thing and whether they are Christians or Muslims, the act is very bad on its own and should be condemned.”

He said no Christian would carry such weapons as used by Boko Haram members to kill fellow human beings. Fighting a war against the Nigerian state since 2009, Boko Haram has been known to attack both churches and mosques

“No Christian will carry those weapons to kill fellow humans. The commandments of God explicitly stated that thou shall not kill and you don’t kill either physically or any form. Christians that are Christians will never engage in that, so if Zulum has his facts, let him put it out,” Mr Daramola added.