ICC Note:
Boko Haram, a radical Islamic insurgency bent on establishing a separate Islamic state in northern Nigeria, declared an Islamic caliphate in August over the corpses of dozens of Christians slaughtered for their faith. One of the deadliest organizations in the world, Boko Haram is responsible for the deaths of more than 13,000 Nigerians, including more than 1,700 Christians this year alone. Considering supporting ICC’s efforts to restore Nigeria’s broken Christian communities by donating to our Hand of Hope Africa Fund.
12/08/2014 Nigeria (Morning Star News) – Islamic extremists from Boko Haram killed 11 people and kidnapped 20 women as they attacked predominantly Christian Lassa in northeastern Nigeria state last week, the third town a three weeks that the terrorist group claims as part of its caliphate.
The Boko Haram insurgents, who seek to impose sharia (Islamic law) throughout Nigeria, invaded Lassa in southern Borno state on Wednesday (Dec. 3), sources said. Survivors who escaped the carnage and arrived at Jos told Morning Star News that the Boko Haram gunmen initially stormed the town on Nov. 29 but were repelled, then returned on Wednesday, destroying church buildings and homes.
“As it is now, Boko Haram is fully in charge in Lassa town and has declared the town a caliphate,” one of the escapees from Lassa told Morning Star News. He declined to give his name, saying, “It is no longer safe for us to tell you our names, as doing so may pose a serious threat not only to us but also our relations who are still being held captive by Boko Haram members.”
Church buildings destroyed in Lassa, in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area, include that of the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria (EYN), the largest denomination in Borno state.
In Shani, also in Borno state, Boko Haram militants began an attack on Nov. 29 after taking control of Chibok on Nov. 14, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee the predominantly Christian towns. The Nigerian military announced that it had retaken Chibok with the help of vigilantes on Nov. 16, but residents insist that Boko Haram gunmen are still in control of the town.
Boko Haram has declared all three towns part of an Islamic caliphate, with captured Christians either killed or forced to embrace Islam, survivors told Morning Star News.
In the predominantly Christian town of Shani, Boko Haram killed scores of people as thousands of others fled, survivors from the area said.
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