Churches Council tasks media on local terror blackout

Lagos - The Wind Council of Churches (WCC) has expressed
deep shock over the latest attacks by extremist group Boko
Haram.
The attacks are said to have cost the lives of more than 2 000
people, including children used in suicide bomb attacks.
"A mind-set which deploys young children as bombs and
which indiscriminately slaughters women, children and elderly
people is beyond outrage, and disqualifies itself from any
possible claim to religious justification," reads a statement issued
by the WCC headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland late Monday.
Also read: Catholic bishops meet Jonathan over insurgency
In the statement, the WCC called on the Nigerian government to
respond meaningfully to these attacks and to ensure protection
of the people from any and all such atrocities.
The WCC also joined its voice with Nigerian religious leaders who
have called for the international community's solidarity and
engagement, expressing deep disappointment at the relative -
even discriminatory - lack of international media coverage. "As
much as the WCC joins in the international solidarity with the
people of France in the aftermath of the recent attacks in and
near Paris, we are deeply saddened that the tragic events in
Nigeria have not attracted equivalent international concern and
solidarity," read the statement.
The WCC has member churches in Nigeria.
The Council has been actively engaged in inter-religious peace
initiatives in the country in cooperation with local partners.
A high-level Christian-Muslim visit to Nigeria in 2012 was co-led
by the WCC general secretary Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit and Prince
Ghazi of Jordan of the Royal Jordanian Aal Al-Bayt Institute
(RABIIT).
The two organizations have been working together to establish a
centre to monitor religiously based violence and promote inter-
religious harmony, justice and peace.
The centre in Abuja will open during the first half of 2015.