Young people from Gwoza have strongly denied claims that Christians are being singled out for attack. The Gwoza Youth Forum, which includes both Christian and Muslim members, says the long-running violence from Boko Haram has been an equal-opportunity tragedy.
This response comes after a Christian group alleged a “genocide” against their community. The youth forum’s leader, Bulama Ali Haruna, explained that the insurgents did not care about religion when they attacked.
He listed dozens of villages, all home to mixed faiths, that were destroyed. Haruna pointed out that Boko Haram killed the Muslim Emir, the Chief Imam, and many other leaders, proving they targeted everyone.
The damage was vast and indiscriminate. The terrorists burned down thousands of mosques, nearly a hundred churches, schools, hospitals, and markets. Police stations were also razed, showing a complete disregard for all community institutions.
The forum warns that calling this a religious war is dangerous. They say it twists the truth, hurts the healing process, and could break the fragile peace between Muslims and Christians that is slowly being rebuilt.
Their final call is for unity and careful words. They urge everyone to be responsible, stick to the facts, and not risk dividing their community again after so much shared suffering.
