The Christians Association of Nigerian-Americans (CANAN) today in Abuja gave $50,000 to victims of various Boko Haram attacks across the country to relieve some of their distress, and called on other public spirited individuals and organisations to come to aid of the victims.
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The Christians Association of Nigerian-Americans (CANAN) today in Abuja gave $50,000 to victims of various Boko Haram attacks across the country to relieve some of their distress, and called on other public spirited individuals and organisations to come to aid of the victims.
Speaking in a press conference, the President of the Association, James Falade, described the agony confronting the victims and relatives of the Boko Haram violence as “pathetic and horrible,” stressing that everybody must contribute to improve their socio-economic well-being.
He said that the association considered it necessary to release the funds in order to cater for various victims who have lost their homes as a result of wanton attacks and destruction by members of the dreaded sect.
One of the victims who narrated his ordeal at the conference was Abila Adamu who was shot in the mouth in Yobe State. He said that he was at home in the night when the assailants came to knock on his door and asked him to come out with his family.
“I asked my wife and the children to come out. They asked me why I decided not to follow their religion and I told them that I am a Christian. They told me that they are working for Allah that if I want to die as a Christian or Muslim and I told them that I am a Christian and I will prefer to die as a Christian. My wife was begging them; she even offered them money if they will spare our lives. The took my money, handsets and wallets and ransacked everywhere. One of them just said, you are wasting our time and the next thing I heard was gunshot in my head. I fell down thinking I am to meet my God and enter into another realm of life but I was able to lift my hand and I told my wife that I am alive. I managed to move and told my wife to give me water but she refused. My children brought water but when i drink it the water was coming down through my perforated mouth. I was taken to the hospital by the security where the surgery was performed on my mouth.”
Another victim, Deborah Shetima, said her husband was shot to death in her presence when they were praying, and their two children taken away.
Deborah, who could not hold back her tears, said that she does not know the whereabouts of the children and that the last born was shot three months after the death of her husband.
One pastor who lost eight members of his church in an attack on February 23, 2013, in Kano also narrated how the Islamic sect invaded his church at about 7am and asked the Muslim and Christians to line up. The attackers asked for the names of the individuals and later opened fire on the Christians."
“Thirteen people were killed that day but eight of them were my church members,” he said. “When they told me of the attack I went straight to the church to see things for myself. I did not see anybody around to assist; I was in the middle of corpses and I was told that they have killed other Christians living around the area.”
Another victim who lost five of his brothers in an attack could not talk as tears streamed down his face.
CANAN also called on the Federal Government to stop the unnecessary killings of Boko Haram.
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