Christians, Muslims unite against Boko Haram in Cameroon

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Thursday 21 Jan 2016 - 13:36 Makkah mean time-11-4-1437 Image from lstcccme.wordpress Yaoundé, Cameroon (IINA) - After becoming victims of continued attacks by Boko Haram for three years, Muslims and Christians in Cameroon are now joining forces to protect each other, Deutsche Welle reported. Hundreds of Muslims gather each Friday for prayers at the central mosque in Mozogo near the border to Nigeria. In order to protect worshippers and the mosques from attack, the Muslim community has formed vigilante groups. Therefore, the Muslim community has teamed up with Christian organizations to help protect each other. Joseph Klofou of the Protestant Church of Cameroon said that his church decided with members of self-defense groups to guard mosques so that believers do not have to miss their religious obligations. Djafarou Alamine of the central mosques said that they also stand guard in front of churches when Christians pray. "I am out to fight because Boko Haram is a group of bad people. Islam condemns all that they have been doing to both Christians and Muslims who are all God's creatures even though they have religious differences,” said Alamine. Cameroon Christians and Muslims are uniting in the fight against the Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram that has been attacking the central African nation. On Monday, a young suicide bomber detonated explosives at a mosque in Guetchewe, a town near Cameroon's border with Nigeria, killing five people. This happened only five days after another suicide attack, which killed 12 at a mosque in the town of Kouyape. Cameroon's population of over 23 million people is 40 percent Christian, 20 percent Muslim with 40 percent holding indigenous beliefs. Midjiyawa Bakari is the governor of Cameroon's Far North region. He congratulated Christians and Muslims for working together against a common enemy. "We have applauded this initiative in which Muslims stand guard over Churches and Christians stand guard over mosques. We condemn the actions of Boko Haram and ask Cameroonians to all fight them,” said Bakari. “And we extend our condolences to families that lost their loved ones." "Cameroon is a country where priests and imams both go to churches and mosques to preach and pray during ecumenical services. It is a treasure to keep," said Bakari. SM/IINA