The Nigerian Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) is pleading with the British government to help secure the release of girls who were kidnapped by the Islamic group Boko Haram.
According to The Vanguard, the NCEF visited the British High Commission in Abuja to ask the British government to intervene in the sectarian crisis in Nigeria.
In a statement signed by NCEF chairman Elder Solomon Asemota, the group called on the British government to assist in peace efforts.
"Urgently, a Truth, Peace and Reconciliation Commission should be set up as the basis for confession, forgiveness, healing and reconciliation in the country, and restructuring of the country," the statement said, as reported by The Vanguard.
Another concern raised by the Christian elders was the captivity of the Chibok girls and Leah Sharibu, a 15-year-old Christian girl who was abducted by Boko Haram along with 110 other schoolgirls in February in Yobe state.
Most of the schoolgirls kidnapped in Yobe were eventually freed, but Sharibu remained in captivity. She was reportedly asked to convert to Islam in exchange for her freedom, but she refused.
Some of the 276 Chibok girls that were abducted by the militant group have been released, but at least 112 girls are still missing.
The NCEF had asked the British government to intervene in securing the release of the captives.
The Christian leaders also warned about a "stealth jihad" being waged by Islamists in conjunction with "conventional jihad." The group cited the actions of Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen as examples of conventional jihad.
"Stealth jihad includes the method by which Nigeria became a full member of OIC, the method by which Nigeria was given 1999 Constitution and the recruitment of Church leaders as foot soldiers for the Islamists," the group said, according to The Vanguard.
The Christian elders demanded the removal of government sponsorship of religious pilgrimages as well as the "assessment and payment of compensation for lives and property lost to Islamic insurgency and Jihad in the country."
Two Christian groups in Nigeria have warned that there could be grave consequences if Sharibu dies at the hands of Boko Haram.
Adebayo Oladeji, special assistant on media and communications to the Christian Association of Nigeria President, released a statement saying Sharibu's death could be an "open invitation to religious war" as she is being kept in captivity "purely because of her religion."
Bishop Emmah Isong, national publicity secretary of the Pentecostal Christian Association, warned that Nigeria's constitution will be called into question if the government fails to secure the release of Sharibu.
