AFRICA/NIGERIA - The Bishop of Maiduguri: "Boko Haram could conquer the entire north-east before the end of the election"

Monday, 26 January 2015

Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - "Boko Haram tried to enter Maiduguri twice last weekend: the first time on Friday 23 and the second yesterday, Sunday 25 January", says to Agenzia Fides His Exc. Mgr. Oliver Dashe Doeme, Bishop Maiduguri, capital of Borno State, in northern Nigeria where the Boko Haram fighters tried to enter after having taken possession of other cities in the north-east of the Country.
"The guerrillas of Bolo Haram were rejected by the military and the civilian militia that defend the city. The fights were very intense. Boko Haram has lost several men. At the moment the situation in Maiduguri appears calm", says to Fides Mgr. Doeme, who states that he is in Damaturu (Yobe State capital, whose territory falls within the diocese presided over by the Bishop) on a pastoral visit, although his collaborators keep him constantly updated on the situation in Maiduguri.
"We find ourselves in a very dangerous and difficult moment" continues the Bishop. "We risk seeing Boko Haram conquer the entire north-east before the end of the election, unless foreign troops intervene", said Mgr. Doeme, referring to the presidential elections to be held in mid-February and to the coordination of the military actions of neighboring Countries against Boko Haram, after the latest raids of Nigerian extremists in Cameroon and the conquest of the base of the international force of Baga, on the shores of Lake Chad (see Fides 09/01/2015).
"The situation is very complex and the first victims are innocent civilians", concluded the Bishop of Maiduguri who implies the existence of some "saboteurs" and accomplices within the Nigerian army, who favor the advance of Boko Haram for political reasons. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 26/01/2015)


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