CAN to sue Boko Haram at International Criminal Court- Oritsejafor

CAN says it considering taking Boko Haram to the International Criminal Court.

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, the umbrella body of tens of millions of Nigerian Christians, said on Wednesday that it is putting plans in place to press charges against the Islamic insurgent group, Boko Haram, at the International Criminal Court.

The President of the Association, Ayo Oritsejafor, stated this at the opening of the National Executive Council Meeting of the association in Awka, Anambra State.

“We at CAN are strongly considering pressing charges against the Boko Haram sect for crimes committed against Christians at the International Criminal Court and we will commence soon,” Mr. Oritsejafor said.

The Christian leader also urged the Federal Government to pronounce the sect a foreign terrorist group.

“The Federal Government should designate the Boko Haram sect as a foreign terrorist group,” Mr. Oritsejafor said.

“We will not encourage Christians to carry arms, but we have always called on Christians and the churches to defend and protect themselves,” he said, adding that “The way the sect is succeeding in its attacks, it is obvious that it is not done yet.”

Mr. Oritsejafor alleged that some churches in the north cannot get airtime on radio and television. He challenged governors of Northern States to take positive steps towards resolving the Boko Haram crisis.

“We call on the governors of the 19 northern states to come together and hold a meeting to know the fate of their people who are being killed in the north,” he said.

The CAN president called on other governors to challenge their northern counterparts to end the crisis.

“Without the measures put in place by the southern governors, there will be reprisal attacks every day. So why shouldn’t the northern governors put in the same measures?” Mr. Oritsejafor asked.