More than three months
after the abduction of over 200 female students of Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State by members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect, parents of the victims have continued their hunger strike, the Christian Association of Nigeria, said on Sunday.
The association also raised the alarm that palpable fear has gripped Chibok community over another deadly attack by the insurgents because of inadequate number of soldiers in the community.
The Chairman, Borno State chapter of CAN, Rev (Dr) Titus Pona, stated these in an interview in Abuja, while responding to enquiries on the alleged killing of the Parish Pastor of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Mr. Taiwo Dokun, by Boko Haram in Dille, a village in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of the State while the whereabouts of his wife and three children remained unknown.
According to him, all churches in Borno State are praying in commemoration of the 100 days of the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls.
He said, “We are therefore calling on all Christian brothers and sisters in Nigeria and indeed all over the world to join us in prayers. Today is exactly 100 days that the Chibok girls were abducted and we are still waiting, but no good response yet. Our parents are still crying and if you go to Chibok now, parents of the abducted girls have been very sick, thinking of their daughters. We are still pleading that the government should do something because my people are really very disturbed.
“I went to Chibok village myself and not that they were hospitalized; but they are very sick. Eating food is very difficult for them, some of them have decided not to be eating food. But we have to plead with them to eat food. Two parents of the abducted Chibok girls have died because of hearth attacks. We are therefore calling on the Christian community in Nigeria and the world over to pray for not only the abducted girls but also for their parents” he added.
“People are running helter-skelter in our place and there is that fear that there might be another serious attack. Presently, there are only few soldiers in Chibok. Parents whose daughters have been attacked are apprehensive that they may be attacked. Presently in Chibok people are leaving in droves; it has been really traumatic,” Pona said.
Speaking on the burning of the RCCG in Dille, Pona said he was yet to be briefed on the reported death of the Pastor.
“I have not received information from my coordinator in the area because communication has been cut off in that place. But I am aware
that people were attacked in that village. I will confirm from my coordinator in Askira-Uba LGA to find out if the Pastor was a victim and I will get back to you”, he said.