LONDON, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Christian leaders in Nigeria should preach for peace while Muslim leaders must separate themselves from Boko Haram, a Nigerian author said.
Militant group Boko Haram has issued threats against the Christian population in Nigeria as it tries to create an Islamic state in a country divided largely along religious lines.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who won a prestigious award for her book documenting the Nigerian civil war that ended in 1970, told The Guardian newspaper in London that all sides were called to action for the sake of peace.
"Christian leaders must continue to preach peace and togetherness so that Christians do not retaliate," she said. "Muslim leaders must strongly and repeatedly condemn the violence against Christians and make it clear that Boko Haram does not represent Nigerian Islam."
The security situation is compounded by public frustration over a decision by Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan to end a fuel subsidy in place for nearly 40 years. Though Jonathan last week said the situation in the country was worse than civil war, Adichie said the Christian president wasn't doing enough for peace.
"What matters to me is that our president has publicly said that Boko Haram has backers and supporters in the national assembly," she said. "If he has this knowledge, why has nothing been done to and about these supporters of terrorism?"
