Nigerian Christians in the United States under the aegis of Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans, CANAN, has called for more action and support from the US to help Nigeria resolve the terror insurgency challenge.
In a statement issued in New York and signed by Laolu Akande, the group said it has followed the exchange between the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Professor Ade Adefuye and the US State Department on the issue of whether or not the United States has rendered its utmost help to Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram.
The statement reads: “It is important first, to state that the US government has been one of the leading backers of Nigeria in this matter, especially since after it decided to designate Boko Haram a Foreign Terrorist Organization, FTO. And the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans, CANAN, as a body, is very much appreciative of all the American government has done.
“However, we agree with the Nigerian Ambassador that the US govt can do more in helping Nigeria fight Boko Haram. While noting the importance of the issues raised by the US government, we are convinced that a greater American concern is ensuring that Boko Haram is not left alone to gather momentum until such a time that it will become another Benghazi on our hands.
“CANAN argues that Boko Haram should not be handled with kid gloves or ignored. While we are grateful for the US help so far, it is time that that the American government develops a similar commitment on Boko Haram that has now been rightly focused on ISIL; or at least something sufficiently comparable.
“Both ISIL and Boko Haram are birds of the same feathers deserving equal and very serious concerted, consistent and continuous international confrontation. The perceived failings of the Nigerian military and the limitations of the Nigerian government should not be the reason for the US or the international community to relent. In fact, those limitations explain why an international assault is now supremely imperative in the war against Boko Haram.
“CANAN is already on record regarding our dissatisfaction with the way the Nigerian government is handling the insurgency, and we have always been an advocate for a strong international platform to deal with this violence which has now killed several thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands innocent Nigerians.
“The role and the place of the United States in global leadership is well known, but more so is the fact that Boko Haram has long been determined by the US Congress to be a threat to America’s national security.
“While we continue to demand that the Nigerian government and military put their house in order, the United States should step-up its contribution in the efforts to rid the world of Boko Haram’s recurring violence and brutality”, the statement said.
