Archbishop Kaigama calls on Nigerian politicians to be united in the fight against terror attacks

The President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Nigeria, His Grace Ignatius Kaigama is calling on Nigerians to put aside politics and unite to fight terrorism in the country. Commenting on the attack at a school in Potiskum in Yobe State on Monday that left at least 48 dead, Archbishop Kaigama, said "It is time for our politicians to put aside the election campaign and unite to fight Boko Haram."

The Archbishop of Jos, who had just returned to Nigeria after attending a conference on religious freedom in London said it is disturbing to see how much Boko Haram, which is blamed for the attack, continues to advance in two other states, Borno and Adamawa, despite the significant deployment of military forces and security in those areas. “How this can happen leaves us puzzled,” the Fides News Agency reported. Noting that politicians are currently busy with campaigning for next year’s elections, he urged them to temporarily put aside politics and instead focus on strategies to address “this critical situation, with entire populations fleeing or living in insecurity.” It is time to demonstrate true patriotism and go beyond the quest for power", Archbishop Kaigama urged.

Meanwhile, Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan announced on Tuesday he would seek a second term in a February election and vowed to defeat the five-year-old insurgency of Boko Haram.

He told cheering supporters in Abuja that he accepted to present himself for re-election “After seeking the face of God, and in the quiet of my family, and after listening to the clarion call of Nigerians.”

His government has come under heavy criticism for failing to halt almost daily Boko Haram attacks, and especially for the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls by the group in April. A ceasefire agreement with Boko Haram unilaterally announced by his government last month has failed to stop the violence.