National Catholic Reporter: AFJN’s Fr. Okure on Kidnapped Nigerian Girls

On May 9, 2014 AFJN Executive Director Fr. Aniedi Okure, OP was quote in Michael Sean Winter’s “AFJN’s Fr. Okure on Kidnapped Nigerian Girls” article feature in National Catholic Reporter. Read it here: https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/distinctly-catholic/afjns-fr-okure-kidnapped-nigerian-girls

The original statement:

We gather here to demand the safe and unconditional return of the kidnapped girls to their families so they can continue their education. Education is a human rights issue; it should never be denied to anyone. We unequivocally call on Boko Haram to release them now.

We believe that Boko Haram has succeeded in its evil acts mainly due to the larger political culture that plagues and destabilizes Nigeria.  Politicians live above the law and feel unaccountable to no one.  Therefore, we urge the Nigerian government to address the root causes of Nigeria’s social, economic, and political problems, especially:

The lack of the rule of law and a culture of impunity that is deeply entrenched in Nigeria’s political system.
2.     Massive embezzlement of public funds by politicians who live above the law.
3.     The lingering feudal system in most of the northern parts of Nigeria.
4.     Large unemployed youth population (vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups).

Therefore, we call on the Nigerian government to include these matters as an integral part of the school girls’ rescue plan. Without reform, Boko Haram will continue to kill and kidnap more Nigerians.

Once again we denounce with our last energy Boko Haram and all its terrorist activities. Today let us also recall and pray for all of Boko Haram’s victims and their families.