Charlie yes, but what about the massacre in Nigeria!?

I met Lorenz in Berlin just before Xmas at a leadership training event which OBV helped found. At every juncture during the training Lorenz was inquisitive and challenging. At one point he said, I’ll be in London soon can I come and volunteer for you Mr Woolley? Yes, I instantly replied, knowing talent when I see it. And here he is, in Bethnal Green writing his first article and assisting with campaigns. Expect much more from this bright young man!

Simon Woolley

The town Baga near Nigeria`s border with Chad witnessed the most unimaginable massacre that killed more than 2000 last week. In horrific scenes that one could only imagine in hell befell the people of Baga.  Yet, a global solidarity with the people of Baga, on the lines that we encountered for France has not even remotely materialised.

African voices are labelling it as the `forgotten massacre of Nigeria`. Amnesty International in particular have voiced concerns about the lack of attention:

“The attack on Baga and surrounding towns, looks as if it could be Boko Haram’s deadliest act in a catalogue of increasingly heinous attacks carried out by the group,” said Daniel Eyre, Nigeria researcher for Amnesty International, highlighting the scope of this massacre. He continues: “…this marks a disturbing and bloody escalation of Boko Haram’s ongoing onslaught against the civilian population,” Nigeria is standing still for the victims of this tragedy.

Paris was struck with the terrible murder of cartoonists, police and civilians in the past week causing an international wave of solidarity and support. On Sunday global leaders led a 3 million-strong march through the streets of France.  Furthermore, we encountered overwhelming attention by international media.

Standing up against the brutality of the ‘Charlie Hebdo’ killings is essential, but the world cannot forget Baga. Many voices are highlighting the difference between the West`s willingness to react to the Charlie Hebdo murders and the almost deafening silence of the massacre in Nigeria.

One of Nigeria`s most senior church leaders Catholic Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama calls for more solidarity with Baga: “We need that spirit to be spread around. Not just when (an attack) happens in Europe, but when it happens in Nigeria, in Niger, in Cameroon. We [must] mobilise our international resources and face or confront the people who bring such sadness to many families.”

`The West is ignoring Boko Haram violence”, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama continues.  He calls upon the West to act: "When it comes to the international community, they express their solidarity but it isn't really concrete help. We have always said that there should be concern expressed more concretely by the West beyond just expressing their solidarity. They should do more than that," he said.

This awful week has demonstrated the shocking levels of barbarity that extremists around the world perpetrate. But in our own shock and anger we do an injustice to humanity if by default we appear to value European lives much more than those from other continents.

Lorenz Narku Laing