Nigerian church leaders gathered recently to stand against the violence of Boko Haram.

Hundreds marched in rain Sunday to show solidarity against growing violence by Islamic extremists in the country, reports Premier Christian News.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) led the peaceful protests against the "brutal killing of innocent Nigerians," says international Catholic pastoral aid organization Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

CBCN president Archbishop Augustine Akubeze says these killings have led to increased insecurity throughout the country.

"We are protesting against the brutal killing of innocent Nigerians by Boko Haram, and terrorist herdsmen," Akubeze says.

"We are gathered to mourn the women, children, babies, and men who have been killed by the terrorists."

Akubeze says CBCN and its supporters want to inform the Nigerian government that they are tired of hearing talk about Boko Haram being "technically defeated," despite ongoing killings and violence.

In fact, the president says the response of the Nigerian government has aided in worsening the situation.

"The failure to protect innocent people from relentless attacks is evil. The lack of prosecution of terrorists is evil," Akubeze says.

ACN says there is a new emergency in Nigeria and violence in the country has become increasingly worse over the past few months.

"There have been too many mass burials. Too many kidnappings of school children, of travellers, invasions of peoples' homes, and invasions of sacred places like churches, mosques, [and] seminaries," says Akubeze.

Akubeze also lamented the silence of western journalists about the crisis ongoing in Nigeria, saying: "If the western media give comprehensive steadfast coverage to the atrocities happening in Nigeria, they will discover that people are dying daily in Nigeria from the hands of Boko Haram."

In January this year, Boko Haram reportedly killed the chairman of the Adamawa state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria.

"May our prayers wipe away evil from our land, soaked by the blood of innocent citizens and melt the stony hearts of people who rejoice at the suffering of other brothers and sisters whom they keep in captivity," says Akubeze.