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Esther
Ibanga (L), a pastor and activist in Nigeria, pictured in Jos, Plateau State,
on March 11, 2010 ©Pius Utomi Ekpei (AFP)
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Esther
Ibanga, a pastor and activist in Nigeria, who has campaigned against Islamist extremists Boko Haram was on
Tuesday awarded a Japanese peace prize worth US$170,000.
AFP
reports Niwano Peace
Foundation said it awarded the prize to Ibanga who has kept up a vocal protest against
the kidnappings that Boko Haram has made almost routine. The foundation said it had awarded her its 20 million yen annual prize
because of the way she has tirelessly pressured central and local governing
officials in her efforts to fight back against extremists.
"Esther
has worked extensively to foster and facilitate reconciliation between
conflicting religious and tribal groups," setting up an organization that
has all tribal women leaders on its membership, the Buddhist group-backed
foundation said.
Boko
Haram fighters have kidnapped hundreds of schoolgirls, causing global outrage
and a social media campaign to release them.
Over
13,000 have been killed while more than one million people have been left
homeless since 2009 as the extremist militants try to carve out an Islamic
state in Nigeria's northeast.
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