The Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Nigeria has appealed to the world to lend the violence-torn country the same amount of support it has given France in the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attack.
"Do not forget that we are here, that we are suffering, that many people have been killed, that many have become displaced, that they do not have a place to live," said Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama in AllAfrica.com, referring to the numerous atrocities committed by Boko Haram against communities across northern Nigeria.
According to the cleric, Nigeria needs the international community to give it the same amount of help it has heaped on Paris after the city's string of terrorist attacks that left 17 dead.
"We need that spirit to be spread around," Kaigama said. "Not just when it (an attack) happens in Europe, but when it happens in Nigeria, in Niger, in Cameroun.
"We must mobilise our international resources and face or confront the people who bring such sadness to many families."
Kaigama made his plea in the wake of three recent suicide attacks carried out by young females that killed more than 20 people over the weekend. The bombers were guessed to be around the age of 10 and a witness of one attack said the girl seemed she had no idea that the objects strapped to her were explosives.
All Africa reports that during his address on Monday in the Plateau State capital, Kaigama also urged the West to show more resolve in putting an end to the jihadist group's attacks.
Speaking with the BBC's Newsday programme, the prelate said that the recent massacre in Baga, where an estimated 2,000 people were slain, shows the inability of the Nigerian army to stop Boko Haram.
"It is a monumental tragedy," Kaigama said. "It has saddened all of Nigeria. But... we seem to be helpless. Because if we could stop Boko Haram, we would have done it right away. But they continue to attack, and kill and capture territories... with such impunity."
Recently, even the Nigerian military asked for international intervention to help avoid another Baga incident from happening.
Defence spokesman Chris Olukolade said, "The attack on the town by the bloodhounds and their activities since January 3rd, 2015, should convince well-meaning people all over the world that Boko Haram is the evil all must collaborate to end, rather than vilifying those working to check them."
Kaigami insisted that the Boko Haram issue was "not a clash between Christians and Muslims" but rather a problem involving "a terrorist group that attacks anyone who stands in its way or does not work with them wholeheartedly."
The Archbishop warned that attacks were increasing and that security must therefore be beefed up.
"We hope that the government and leaders of the international community will do something to put an end to the violence," he said.
