NEW YORK (WordNews.org) Jan. 1, 2013 – Pressure is mounting on the White House to declare the Boko Haram a foreign terrorist organization (FTO).

“On Christmas day in northern Nigeria, Boko Haram was busy slashing the throats of Christians right inside their churches or at their homes,” said Laolu Akande, executive director of the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans (CANAN). “At least 15 of such barbaric killings have been reported in the past number of days. Worshippers had to watch in terror as their colleagues’ throats were cut off.”

Akande said the United States’ government’s response has been to passively watch as hundreds of Nigerian Christians were killed in 2012 alone.

“We had warned that Boko Haram would continue its tradition of killing Nigerian Christians on Christmas day,” Akande said. “Last week marked the third straight year that the terror group has murdered Nigerian Christians in the church on a Christmas day.”

He said the Boko Haram killed nearly 800 Nigerians, most who professed to be Christians, last year. In the past three years,, the Boko Haram has killed 3,000 Nigerians.

A search of the White House website finds just two mention of the Boko Haram, the latest posted in April following the Boko Haram attacks during the Easter weekend. Vice President Joe Biden, meeting with Federal Republic of Nigeria Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, “discussed opportunities to deepen cooperation on issues of mutual interest such as advancing trade and investment, promoting peace and security in West Africa, and countering terrorism.”

According to the United Institute of Peace, the Boko Haram is an Islamic sect that is convinced that political leaders in northern Nigeria are “false Muslims.” It seeks to wage war against these politicans and bring sharia law to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Boko Haram has planted bombs almost weekly in public or in churches in Nigeria’s northeast since August 2011, according to the institute.

This Day Live reports Nigerian President Goodluck said during a New Year’s service today that many of those responsible for the attacks are in custody.

“Our government in Washington, D.C, especially the White House and the State Department are fully aware of what is going on,” CANAN’s Akande said. “But both President Barack Obama and outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have simply tolerated this impunity by their inaction.”

He said the attacks in Nigeria have also impacted Americans, noting the United Nations building in Abuja has been attacked by the Boko Haram.

“We are asking today: Is President Barack Obama and the State Department comfortable to be a mere witness to this evil? Is President Obama not aware that they are cutting the throats of innocent Nigerians who are simply practicing their faith?” Akande asked.

A petition has been initiated to get the White House to move on having the Boko Haram declared a foreign terrorist organization.

Akande said such a designation will send a signal warning those finance and support the organization “that the game is up.”

“Without it,” Akande said, “Boko Haram financiers and supporters are being dangerously awarded a grant of impunity.