Christian leaders in Nigeria undermined efforts to combat the threat of Boko Haram by failing to engage in dialogue with Muslims, a senior Anglican church leader has told the BBC.

Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, who is Nigerian, said Christians had feared the country was being "Islamised".
They had believed Muslims leaders were supporting the militants, he said.

Boko Haram had targeted both Muslims and Christians in its bid to impose Islamic law in northern Nigeria.

The group has killed some 10,000 people since it began its insurgency in 2009 and has also kidnapped hundreds of girls and women.
Last year, the militants seized a huge area of the north-east, before being beaten back by a regional coalition, including Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

The BBC's John McManus says Archbishop Idowu-Fearon, who is the new secretary-general of the Anglican Communion, has a strong reputation for promoting dialogue between Christians and Muslims.

But the archbishop told our correspondent that efforts to maintain unity were undermined by some fellow Christians who failed to engage wit their Muslim counterparts.

"We warned the leadership in my country, the Christian Association of Nigeria: 'Let us listen to the Muslim leadership, because the leadership is not in support of Boko Haram.'

"'Oh no no no,' they said, 'they are always deceiving us. They are all the same,'" he said.

But the archbishop said attitudes had now changed after so many lives had been killed.

"Now they are singing a different tune... I tell you more Muslims have been killed than Christians in the north-east of Nigeria."
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Perhaps it is no surprise that Archbishop Idowu-Fearon decided to leave Nigeria and take up his new role as secretary-general of the Anglican Communion.

From his own admission, his attempts to promote unity between Christians and Muslims in the face of Boko Haram's attacks were not always welcome.

And his opposition to Nigeria's new anti-homosexuality laws put him at odds with many people of faith, including most of his own Church hierarchy.

The archbishop though, is resolute, telling me he would not be dissuaded, even by a statement from the church of Nigeria which distanced itself from him when his new appointment was announced.

In his new role, he certainly has a lot of influence - and responsibility - to steer the troubled Anglican communion's 85 million Christians through some choppy theological waters.

But in seeking to promote inter-faith dialogue, and reconcile different cultural attitudes to homosexuality, the archbishop has to inspire confidence in Anglicans not only in Africa, but also in North America and Europe - people with very different lives. That is a tough job description for anybody.


In the latest suspected Boko Haram attack, at least 28 people were killed at a crowded market in Borno state on Tuesday.
The blast at Jagol GSM market in Sabon Gari town also injured 79 people, 47 of whom were in a critical condition, according to Nigeria's National Emergency Agency.

President Muhammadu Buhari was elected in March, partly on a pledge to defeat Boko Haram. Since he took power in May, more than 800 people have been killed, mainly in suicide attacks.

Source: www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-33882589?ocid=socialflow_facebook%3FSThisFB%3FSThisFB%3FSThisFB

Islam is the worst Religious group ever

ahhh

ok

BH strategized their plan to have a grip on the nation. They initially made pple point accusing fingers at one another while they were busy expanding their territory.

Why is there no boko haram insurgency on moslem dominated northwest?

Mr Bishop try get sense

Smh

old news!!!

BishopMagic:
Why is there no boko haram insurgency on moslem dominated northwest?
Mr Bishop try get sense

mumu,what about kano,bauchi,kebbi,zamfara...ur christian leaders are cowards,they are only interested in their pocket

What effect would christian and muslim dialogue have on the war? Ok, ever since the christian leaders repented and started dialoguing with the muslim leaders, did it end the insurgency? Did it even improve on the status quo? Did it make the so-called muslim leaders fish out the sponsors of boko haram from amongst them? Mr Bishop, with your support for gay rights its obvious you are a demented attention seeker always desirous of controversies

CAN president come to mind.

The guy enriched himself while people were being killed.

tucky200:
mumu,what about kano,bauchi,kebbi,zamfara...ur christian leaders are cowards,they are only interested in their pocket

Geez

Blaming another religion leaders for Boko Haram. Damm!!!

That's like blaming Buddhism or Judaism for ISIS.

Xtian and muslim leaders dialogue has no effect on BH..
Rather muslim leaders should engage FG with BH..

DaGC:


Geez

Blaming another religion leaders for Boko Haram. Damm!!!

That's like blaming Buddhism or Judaism for ISIS.

Havnt u realized dat muslims enjoy lying to themselves
Look around d world tday... Can a sane person term islam as
The religion of peace?...... I doubt

I hate commenting on religious issues but my model bishop kukah really disappointed me yesterday. let religious people just mind dia business

DaGC:


Geez

Blaming another religion leaders for Boko Haram. Damm!!!

That's like blaming Buddhism or Judaism for ISIS.

See mumu..is boko haram not affecting both religion ??..shouldn't they come together to fight against it..use ur senses before commenting

tucky200:

See mumu..is boko haram not affecting both religion ??..shouldn't they come together to fight against it..use ur senses before commenting

And you couldn't make the above point without insults?

Well, before I will start heaping blames on Christian leaders, I'll like to know what the Muslim leaders have done in relation to Boko Haram.

hassan85:
I hate commenting on religious issues but my model bishop kukah really disappointed me yesterday. let religious people just mind dia business

you still dey cry? FATHER MBAKA criticised Jonathan , you were musing on it, now REV. KUKAH criticises buhari, you are wailing.....

Are muslims really fighting boko haram? Pls where and when

Only islamic scholar dat i ever heard conderm boko haram in zaria has been killed

Bishop idowu is base in Kaduna he is always on tv because of dis type of religious diplomacy.

churches are spendin million of naira in north to protect worshippers in church, because many muslim hate to see churches, b4 BH are northerns youth not destroyin church...

many muslim leaders in de north wish BK success so dat we can av islam state....

DaGC:



And you couldn't make the above point without insults?

Well, before I will start heaping blames on Christian leaders, I'll like to know what the Muslim leaders have done in relation to Boko Haram.

u no dey watch news abi...no quote me again

SonOfEl:


you still dey cry? FATHER MBAKA criticised Jonathan , you were musing on it, now REV. KUKAH criticises buhari, you are wailing.....

use ur brain. wen mbaka did were Nigerians ok with d point or not? Bishop kukah is too intelligent for trying to become PDP spoke person

Nothing wey we no go here

This is really funny,when Christian leaders were shout that Muslim leaders should talk to their people they were, they ignore it. Not this the result.

Life at times is really funny

Vicadonis:
Nothing wey we no go here

My bro I te you

hassan85:
use ur brain. wen mbaka did were Nigerians ok with d point or not? Bishop kukah is too intelligent for trying to become PDP spoke person

pls leave KUKAH alone abeg.

How would they have trusted the Muslim leaders when they watch all the time how churches and Christians where been attacked most times just after leaving the mosque without the Muslim leaders uttering a word. They even encouraged and supported those attacks. Boko Haram has become a headline news now simply because they also attack Muslims.........Hypocrisy by Muslim northern leaders

BishopMagic:
Why is there no boko haram insurgency on moslem dominated northwest?

Mr Bishop try get sense

Yoruba Muslims are not violent. Check your history they never engage in violence against any other religion. A Yoruba man can be tribalistlic but not a religious bigot.
In the same family in Yoruba land, a wife can be a Christian the husband a muslim or vis va ser and they will live happily.
In a single family you find some muslims and others Christians and they live happily without problems.

Chiaka:


Yoruba Muslims are not violent. Check your history they never engage in violence against any other religion. A Yoruba man can be tribalistlic but not a religious bigot.
In the same family in Yoruba land, a wife can be a Christian the husband a muslim or vis va ser and they will live happily.
In a single family you find some muslims and others Christians and they live happily without problems.

Khadija Dare : poster girl for ISIS recruitment in UK





Lee Rigby Killers

Those grew up in the UK and not Nigeria. So they have mixed mentality. Talking about here in Nigeria

BishopMagic:


Khadija Dare : poster girl for ISIS recruitment in UK





Lee Rigby Killers

Our CAN President and pastors are busy buying private jet and we'll be stupidly offering our money in the name of church just to make heaven. religion is the problem of black people

tucky200:
mumu,what about kano,bauchi,kebbi,zamfara...ur christian leaders are cowards,they are only interested in their pocket

Ur religion suck

What are dis ones saying again?