Nigerian priest on Abuja bombing: Nigerians say Boko Haram appear invincible right now

(Vatican Radio)  Father Patrick Tor Alumuku is Director of Communications for the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja and he says many Nigerians believe that Boko Haram is apparently "invincible" right now and that the militant Islamist group is trying to make the situation ungovernable. He was speaking to Vatican Radio after a deadly bomb blast (on June 25th) near a shopping complex in the heart of Nigeria's capital, blamed on Boko Haram 

 

Listen to the interview with Father Patrick Tor Alumuku: 

Father Alumuku said this latest bombing has “brought fear” to the inhabitants of the Nigerian capital, especially as it’s the first bomb blast in a central area of the city in the past few years and took place very close to the seat of government.  He also described it as “a major blow” for the government which appears “weak” in its response to the insurgency.

 

“The impression that people have is that Boko Haram is at this moment apparently invincible,” said Father Alumuku.   Part of the reason for this perception, he said, is that corruption and the siphoning off of funds “into the pockets of politicians and leaders of the military” has damaged the effectiveness of the government’s offensive against Boko Haram. He described this as “a very sore point” among the Nigerian population at large. 

 

Father Alumuku said he believes the Boko Haram militants are trying to make the situation untenable for the present government: “They’re making it impossible for the government to rule, they want to make the situation ungovernable.”