Joblessness and hunger helped the Boko-Haram –Rev Dali

Joblessness and hunger helped the Boko-Haram –Rev Dali

Rev Samuel Dante Dali the president of Ekklesiyan Yan’uwa a Nijeriya (EYN) said the lack of job among the youths played a vital role in the advancement of Boko-Haram in Nigeria. Rev Dali who presides over the worst hit church in Nigeria said the youths who were enticed into joining the insurgent group were trapped through huge loans. The church leader, who spoke in an exclusive interview with the Verbatim Magazine of February 22, stated that the “jobless youths in the northeast” were deceived. He stated that, “the youths were actually given the loans after they submitted their names with their photographs… The beneficiaries thought it was a good gesture but eventually the agents brought guns to keep for them.”

Over 8000 members of EYN have died through the activities of the insurgency in the northeast. Rev Dali said  stated that some 700,000 of EYN members have been displaced; he further stated that about 1,756 churches and worship centers have been destroyed and that some 1000 pastors of EYN are jobless due the displacement of people by the activities of the insurgents.

Rev Dali said the initial assumption was that the Boko Haram was against the Christians only but it later proved that they were just fighting against humanity. The church leader said they have received assistance from several groups and individuals in Nigeria such as the ECWA, TEKAN, Bazata (a radio singing group), former Aso Rock Chaplain, and others  and especially from their parent church (Church of the Brethren) in USA and the Central Mennonites Committee.