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| Nigerian Christian leaders 'hampered Boko Haram fight' | Nigerian Christian leaders 'hampered Boko Haram fight' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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.' | "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. | "'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. | 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." | "Now they are singing a different tune... I tell you more Muslims have been killed than Christians in the north-east of Nigeria." |
| 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. | 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. |
| Some Christian leaders in Nigeria had opposed Archbishop Idowu-Fearon's appointment to the church's second-highest position over his opposition to the criminalisation of homosexuality - in contrast to many of his colleagues. | Some Christian leaders in Nigeria had opposed Archbishop Idowu-Fearon's appointment to the church's second-highest position over his opposition to the criminalisation of homosexuality - in contrast to many of his colleagues. |
| The archbishop said the main challenge in his new role would be get the world's Anglicans - about 85 million worldwide - talking again as some of them had cut relations with each other. | The archbishop said the main challenge in his new role would be get the world's Anglicans - about 85 million worldwide - talking again as some of them had cut relations with each other. |
| Boko Haram at a glance | Boko Haram at a glance |
| Why Boko Haram remains a threat | Why Boko Haram remains a threat |
| Who are Boko Haram? | Who are Boko Haram? |