The National President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has condemned the purported conversion of the abducted schoolgirls of Government Secondary School, Chibok, in Born State by members of Boko Haram , describing it as a declaration of war against Christians in the country.
Represented by Elder Sunday Oibe CAN’s national director of research, at a press conference in Kaduna, Oritsejafor said the forceful conversion of the girls is tantamount to persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Reacting to the latest video message by Boko Haram showing the Chibok schoolgirls reciting the Holy Qur’an on Monday, Oritsejafor noted that those girls can not be exchanged for the release of any detained Boko Haram members, as demanded by the sect.
“First, these children are Christians and not Muslims and so they cannot be converted to a religion that is not theirs at gunpoint without conviction. Besides, is that how conversion is being carried out? All the children displayed are Christians and that is the motive behind the abduction,” Oibe said.
“Secondly, it smacks of some form of religious persecution. If not, why are their captors converting them to another religion? And if they say they will use them as a condition to negotiate for their men in detention, our daughters are not criminals and cannot be used in any way to free their criminal fighters.
“Show us where in Nigeria you have seen Christians fighting and throwing bombs in the name of God. We challenge any one to show us where Christians have abducted Muslim children in the name of Christianity. We challenge anyone to prove in Nigeria where Christians have taken arms in the name of protecting Christianity or even carry out acts of genocide on helpless and defenceless Nigerians. As far we are concern, it is a war against Christians and Christianity.”
