The Federal Government on Thursday admitted that Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa (ISWAP) terrorists now target Christians in their attacks.
At a press briefing in Abuja, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said the terrorists changed tactics and began to target Christians and Christian villages in order to cause disaffection among the two dominant religions in the country.
“They have started targeting Christians and Christian villages for a specific reason, which is to trigger a religious war and throw the nation into chaos.
“Apparently, they have realized how emotive and divisive religion can be when exploited by unscrupulous persons.
“As you would have noticed, Boko Haram and the ISWAP have recently changed their strategy, in the wake of their ceaseless pounding by the military.”
“Lest I am misunderstood, let me repeat: the insurgents, who delude themselves as Muslims whereas they are nothing more than blood-thirsty, rapacious killers who subscribe to no religion, have recently started targeting Christians with a view to sowing the seed of confusion between the two great religions. This did not in any way signify that they have stopped attacking Muslims. But they seem to now have a deliberate policy of attacking Christians,” Mohammed explained.