Violence in Nigeria has ‘no boundaries’ now, archbishop says

Last updated on: July 25, 2014 at 6:33 pm by CNA Daily News

Violence in Nigeria has ‘no boundaries’ now, archbishop says 2014-07-25T18:33:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Rome, Italy, Jul 25, 2014 / 12:33 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- In wake of two bombings this week in Nigeria, targeting both an Islamic scholar and a senior politician, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama has called for greater proactive efforts to identify all violent groups.

“The two separate bombings in Kaduna is a further indication that there is progression rather than retrogression of violence in the northern part of Nigeria,” Archbishop Kaigama said in comments made to CNA July 23.

“That the attacks were allegedly aimed at a prominent Islamic scholar and preacher, and a senior politician shows that the violence has no boundaries now.”

Archbishop Kaigama, head of Nigeria’s Jos archdiocese and spokesman for the country’s Catholic Bishops Conference, gave his comments following two June 23 bomb blasts in the northern Nigerian city of Kaduna.

BBC News reports that the initial blast killed at least 25 people, and was reportedly aimed for moderate Islamic cleric Dahiru Bauchi, who escaped unscathed. Shortly afterward a second blast in the city could be heard not far away.

Bauchi had just concluded preaching in the nearby Murtala Muhammed square, and was driving through the area with his convoy when the bomb went off.

The blasts mark the latest in a wave of bombings shaking the country that are attributed to Islamic militant group Boko Haram, launched in 2009 with the hope of imposing sharia law on Nigeria.

Boko Haram has killed thousands in their attacks, which have targeted security forces, politicians, Christian minorities, and moderate Muslims in Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north.

Another June 23 explosion attributed to Boko Haram at a public health college in Kano killed eight and wounded at least 20. In addition, the militant group continues to hold more than 200 young schoolgirls captive after kidnapping them from Chibok in April.

“Boko Haram is an unfortunate and sad development in Nigeria and it is the fruit of years of social and moral decay, negligence of the poor, corruption, bad governance, dirty politics, frustration of the youths,” Archbishop Kaigama stated.

However, he cautioned that there are also many other proactively violent groups that continue perpetuate the cycle by “hiding under the umbrella of Boko Haram.”

The archbishop made an appeal for authorities to proactively increase efforts to identify other groups who work alongside Boko Haram or use their activities as a shield in order to remain unseen.

Despite falling through on previous promises of action, the federal government’s resolve “to bring an end to the violence and the menacing activities of terrorists in the country” is appreciated, he said.

“President Goodluck Jonathan is genuinely very depressed about the recurrence of violence and the continued detention of the kidnapped Chibok girls,” he noted. “We are united with him in prayers as he explores all the possible options to bring an end to this regime of violence and the reckless taking of human lives.”

Archbishop Kaigama also voiced his hope that the current attacks do not signify an increase in violence ahead of the country’s 2015 political election.

“When you add political violence to religious violence, the result will be anarchy and doom,” he said, “which can only worsen the suffering of most Nigerians.”

Middle East - Africa

Previous Post

July 25, 2014

Pope Francis lunches with Vatican employees by surprise

Next Post

July 26, 2014 Pope Francis to meet with evangelical pastor

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Persian king allowed the Jews to return and rebuild Jerusalem?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Darius Artaxerxes Xerxes Cyrus