Inspiring : Christians, Muslims Take Turns To Guard Against Boko Haram

Cameroonian Christians have started
guarding mosques during prayer sessions
after five attacks on mosques by Boko
Haram fighters.
Muslims have responded in kind by guarding
local churches.
The fifth mosque to be attacked was
assaulted by a teenage suicide bomber near
Cameroon’s border with Nigeria on Monday.
Boko Haram is attacking churches, schools,
markets, and mosques in the country, hoping
to divide local communities.
READ ALSO: Nigerian Army Kills 14 Boko
Haram Fighters In Yobe
At a recent morning prayer call in the central
mosque in Mozogo, on the Nigerian border,
the faithful assembled while local vigilantes
kept guard.
Among the vigilantes was Jacques Mabali,
55, a member of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Cameroon.
Mabali said he responded to his church’s call
to protect the Muslim faithful when they
gather for prayer.
He said he is doing this for the well-being of
his country, and that it is his duty as a
Christian to defend his country from violence.
Ibrahim Moctar, a Muslim youth leader in
Mozogo, said would do the same for
neighboring churches.
Moctar said he not only prays for God to
save Cameroon from Boko Haram, but for an
end to terrorism in general.
He said some of his family members are
Christians and others, like him, are Muslims.
For Conduct Offences
Governor Midjiyawa Bakari of far north
Cameroon congratulated Christians and
Muslims for working together to protect the
country from the terrorist group and urged
others in the country to follow their example.
He said it makes Cameroon an example of
inter-religious tolerance.
READ ALSO: Eight Soldiers Arrested Over
North-East Deployment Protest
Boko Haram has been active in Cameroon for
three years, looting, killing, and burning
schools, markets and churches.
In December 2015, suspected members of
Boko Haram, which said it was attacking
Cameroon to create an Islamist state, started
attacking mosques.
The Cameroonian government believes the
militants have resorted to attacking mosques
because they are becoming desperate after
recent losses.
Of Cameroon’s 23.7 million people, 40% are
Christians, 20% are Muslims, and the rest
hold indigenous beliefs.