After Launching Deadly Attacks, Nigeria Islamists Vow to Keep Killing Christians
- Religion Today
- Updated Jun 13, 2012
![After Launching Deadly Attacks, Nigeria Islamists Vow to Keep Killing Christians](https://i.swncdn.com/media/700w/crosswalk/resource/areas/crosswalk/resources/images/defaultimages/article-large-landscape.png)
In the wake of separate attacks on two churches during worship services June 10 in northern Nigeria by members of the radical Muslim group Boko Haram, the Islamists vowed to continue their killing campaign until they succeed in establishing an Islamic state in Nigeria, ASSIST News Service reports. "The Nigerian state and Christians are our enemies, and we will be launching attacks on the Nigerian state and its security apparatus as well as churches until we achieve our goal of establishing an Islamic state in place of the secular state," said Abul Qaqa, Boko Haram's spokesman, after the attacks. According to International Christian Concern, Boko Haram has been fighting to implement a strict version of sharia law across Nigeria, and has repeatedly said it wants to eradicate Christians from northern Nigeria. ICC's regional manager for Africa, Jonathan Racho, said: "We are deeply alarmed by the continuous killing of Christians in northern Nigeria. In my recent trip to Nigeria, I witnessed the unspeakable level of violence against Christians by Islamic jihad. The Nigerian government has failed to effectively protect its Christian citizens from jihad. We urge Nigeria to avert further devastation by stepping up measures to protect innocent civilians from attack."