United States (US) Congress is billed to conduct a special hearing
next week on the menace of Boko Haram and other forms of terrorism in
Nigeria and other countries considered as US allies.
US Congressman and Chairman of the sub-Committee for African Affairs,
Chris Smith made this known when he led a delegation of the US
Congress Sub-Committee on African Affairs to a meeting with the
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Abuja.
He explained that though Boko Haram is not Islam, its activities
constituted a 'terrible aberration' that not only Nigeria should be
concerned about, but the rest of the world, adding that, "the very
tangible problem of dealing with the refugees, Internally Displaced
Persons and the victims that have been traumatized is something
American government is concerned about."
Smith stated that sequel to the incessant cases of bombings by Boko
Haram sect and other forms of global terrorism, the US would next week
commence a public hearing on Boko Haram to ascertain the facts on how
to curb and tame the menace.
He said there is "need to find a way to reconcile the horrific
situation of Boko Haram and targeting of Christians. This is an
organization that has absolutely misread the Koran and is killing
people."
"I came because in July 2011 the CAN president gave an extensive
testimony concerning the targeting of Christians and churches,
genocide and ethnic cleansing going on in Nigeria and it has helped
the Congress to take action and will next week hold a hearing on the
issue of Boko Haram and terrorism and it is my hope that we will build
better responses especially to the great humanitarian suffering."
Smith also urged the Federal Government to consider setting a special
fund in addition to the amnesty committee which will be similar to the
US 9/11 Victims Special Fund in order to bring succor to the victims
who have been affected in one way or the other by Boko Haram
activities.
Calling on the government to follow the US example, Smith said, "the
example of the United States after the 9/11 attack, many of those
widows were traumatized, they were hurt psychologically and it made
their economic situation more dire having lost their breadwinners. The
Congress passed a Victims' Compensation Fund designed to help and
build significant bridges to deal with further deterioration of their
economic situation. It is an idea that has to be considered by the
National Assembly in Nigeria because of the number of victims you
have."
Responding, CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor said the association
has also considered the need to establish a special fund for Boko
Haram victims caught in the insurgency and acts of terrorism. He
informed the delegation that already CAN has made its position known
to government, and was still waiting for government's response.
Oritsejafor further stated that all stakeholders involved in fighting
terrorism must begin to see such acts of terror as an outcome of
indoctrination as opposed to the claims of economic depravity. "We
should not only be talking about economic issues, indoctrination is
very important, terrorism is not basically economics," the CAN
president stressed.
Already, the tell-tale effect of the attacks in the northern parts of
the country is now being felt in Abuja as over 300 victims and
refugees who ran away from the sect have now relocated to Abuja for
safety.
A guard (name withheld) at the CAN headquarters attached to Joint Task
Force (JTF) said his life is in severe danger as Boko Haram members
are after his life.
Narrating his ordeal, the guard who said his decision to cooperate
with JTF, leading them to the hideouts of Boko Haram pitched him
against the sect's members, causing him to flee his village to avoid
being attacked.
He also revealed that most of the civilian JTF members are disguised
Boko Haram members, "the civilian-JTF members are the real insurgents
that ran away when they heard that soldiers were coming. They are
members. They just disguise as civilian-JTF. One of the JTF members
asked me if I could identify those that are members of Boko Haram and
I told them that I know them by name. I told JTF that I know their
names, their houses and their parents."
"The JTF was eventually deployed to the place. They asked for a
direction and I was taken as their guide to the hideouts of these
insurgents. That day, there were about three battalions of soldiers.
The moment they came in contact with the insurgents, they started
exchanging fires."
Explaining further, he said, "they have now said they'll look for me
wherever I hide since I led JTF to them. They said they'll kill me
once they see me.
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