Lagos — Christian leaders in Nigeria have called on Islamic clerics to educate their youths on the dangers of violence.

They also advised security agents to monitor the activities of youths in the country, saying that the statement credited to the al-Qaeda group should be taken seriously.

Reacting yesterday to the offer made by al-Qaeda group in North Africa to train and arm Muslim groups in Nigeria to fight their perceived enemies, the leaders warned that such statement posed a serious challenge to Islamic leaders in the country on the need to properly educate their followers against falling into the traps of disgruntled elements like the al-Qaeda group.

The group, Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb has said in a statement posted on its website last Monday said that it was ready to defend its people in Nigeria.

"We are ready to train your people in weapons and give you whatever support we can in men, arms and munitions to enable you defend our people in Nigeria" the group had said a statement last Monday.

But speaking with Daily Champion in a telephone interview on Tuesday, General Secretary of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos State chapter, Bishop George Amu said Nigerian youths are now wiser and stronger, noting that they could not fall to the trap of suicide groups like the al-Qaeda.

He called on Islamic leaders to expose the dangers of violence to their youths.

Amu said the al-Qaeda group would fail in Nigeria because by nature, Nigerians would not sacrifice their lives for any group.

He however called on law enforcement agents to monitor the activities of both Muslim and Christian youths in the country to nip any violence in the bud.

"Nigerians by nature could not sacrifice their lives for any group. No matter what name such group bears. The al-Qaeda emanated because of the problem between Israel and Palestinian but Nigeria has no problem with Israel or any country for that matter. Again the case of Umar Abdul Muttalab has made our youths to be wiser," he said.

Amu appealed to clerics to educate adherents of Islam on the need to shun violence.

Similarly, immediate past National Secretary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Bishop Joseph Ojo warned Islamic youths against yielding to such a satanic offer, stressing that God of Christians is a consuming fire.

He urged Islamic teachers to educate their members, saying that such statement by the Islamic militant group should be condemned by all peace lovers.

"Leaders should educate their followers by telling them the implication of such moves. The youths should be told about the implication of falling into the hands of disgruntle elements like the al-Qaeda. No body should dismiss such a threat or treat it with kids' gloves because the al-Qaeda is a terrible group. If the clerics still want this country to remain as one, they should educate their members on how to shun violence," he said.