Boko Haram targets both Christians, Muslims – Ndume warns

The lawmaker representing Borno South senatorial district, Ali Ndume has condemned claims that terrorists operating in the Northeast region of the country only target Christians.

Ndume in a statement issued on Wednesday condemned the religious profiling of victims of terrorist attacks in the region.

The lawmaker’s reaction followed the recent attacks by some suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Ngoshe village, Gwoza Local Government Area and Mussa community in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

The attacks led to the killing of five farmers who were said to have been Muslims in Gwoza LGA.

Similarly, in Mussa Village, three people, Christians, were also killed by the attackers.

In reaction to the attack, Ndume condemned the narrative across some sections of the media that Christians were being targeted in these attacks.

He said, “It is unethical and unconscionable for any media outlet to drive the narrative that Christians are the targets of these attacks by the terror group in Borno, or anywhere in North North-Eastern part of Nigeria.

“The forces behind these mindless killings are blind to faith and tribe. We should avoid this dangerous profiling which can distract us. It has the tendency of doing us more harm,” Ndume stated.

Reeling out the possible impact of such a narrative, the former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army said that this can dampen the morale of soldiers on the front line of the battle against insurgency.

“Our people, whose only pursuit is peace and livelihood, continue to fall victim to the cruelty of insurgents. These men and women deserve to live, to farm and to dream, but their lives are being cut short by those who thrive on violence and destruction,” he said.