'West Is Ignoring Terrorist Attacks On Nigeria That Are Deadlier Than On France'

Africa's seniormost church leader accuses the western world of ignoring the threat of the militant Islamist group Boko Haram, days after the reported slaughter of up to 2,000 people by the group.

The western world is indifferent to the slaughter of 2,000 people by Boko Haram in Nigeria, although it surged to protest against 17 killed in Paris, said Ignatius Kaigama, the Catholic Archbishop of Jos and president of the Nigerian Bishops Conference.

In Baga, northeast Nigeria, Boko Haram fighters took over the border town in early January. The death toll in Baga and surrounding villages, razed by fire, is about 2,000. Most of those killed include women, children and the elderly who could not escape, according to Amnesty International, which called it Boko Haram's "deadliest massacre" yet, according to thetimesofindia.com.

Another 30,000 have fled from their homes, out of which 7,500 are searching for refuge in Chad and the others are adding to Nigeria's tens of thousands of displaced people. Boko Haram released a video showing its leader Abubakar Shekau threatening the Nigerian government.

Archbishop Kaigama told The Independent on Sunday that the Nigerian government was too weak and needed to become stronger against Boko Haram. On the other hand, the West should also act before the militants' power could stretch beyond Nigeria.

The army has been called "chaotic and ineffective" against Boko Haram. While soldiers aren't paid on time, there are repeated reports that the army resorts to "desertion and mutiny", which makes the army weak against a "well-organized and determined foe".

President Goodluck Jonathan has promised to revamp the army to improve its strength. However, Archbishop Kaigama said the west should recognize that the problem is not simply a Nigerian one.

"I can smell a lot more trouble. It's not going to be confined to this region. It's going to expand. It will get to Europe and elsewhere," he warned.

The British government recently announced a new package for Nigeria, including intelligence and training advice, to fight the militants. Though the UK, France and the US have tried to help Nigeria to fight the Boko Haram, most people feel that it is not enough.

Imad Mesdoua, a political analyst at consultants Africa Matters, tweeted: "No breaking news cycle, no live reports, no international outrage, no hashtags."

Harry Leslie Smith, a 91-year-old who gave an earth-shattering speech on the NHS to the Labour Party last year, said on Twitter: "Note to the media and Western politicians that Paris isn't burning but Nigeria is."