Diocese of Down & Dromore

A radical Islamist group that wants to impose strict Sharia law across the whole of Nigeria has claimed responsibility for the Christmas Eve attacks on churches in Maiduguri, in north-east Nigeria.

Boko Haram, whose name means 'Western Education in sinful' in the Hausa language, has been named by the police as being behind the Maiduguri attacks, according to Reuters.

But although they’ve also claimed responsibility for the bomb attacks in Jos, in Plateau state, no evidence has yet been found to link the two.

Boko Haram says it carried out the bomb attacks in Jos on Christmas Eve that claimed at least 38 lives and injured around 74. However, the attacks in Jos were carried out more indiscriminately with explosives and may have been politically motivated.

Release International, which serves the persecuted Church, is calling for prayer -and for increased security for Christians in Nigeria.

In the past two weeks warnings were received of a possible disruption of the Christmas celebrations in Jos. Some see the latest attack as a jihad. Others believe the bomb attacks in Plateau State may have been intended to whip up violence ahead of the elections in April.

There is clearer evidence for a religious motive behind the attacks in Maiduguri. Militants confined their attacks to churches in the capital of Borno state, where Boko Haram has its headquarters. They attacked three churches, killing a pastor and five others.

Churches and Christians have been targeted repeatedly in Maiduguri since the imposition of strict Islamic law in the state.

‘Our prayers go out for the Christians of Maiduguri, who have been attacked yet again by militants who seem determined to drive them out,’ says Release CEO Andy Dipper. ‘And we are deeply concerned for all the victims of the latest attacks in Jos. We join Christian leaders there in urging restraint, to prevent a cycle of revenge.’

Police acknowledge that Boko Haram was probably behind the Maiduguri attacks. The Islamist group is opposed to all western influence. It regards Christianity as a western import, takes its inspiration from the Taliban and claims allegiance with al-Qaeda.

But although Boko Haram has also claimed responsibility for the Jos attacks, these were of a different nature. According to the police, this is the first time substantial bombs had been detonated in Plateau state. At least six blasts targeted Christmas shoppers, a beer parlour and a church. Another bomb was placed on a road leading to a mosque.

Observers say the bombs may be part of a campaign to destabilise the area ahead of the April elections - by deliberately inflaming religious and ethnic tensions.

The Archbishop of Jos, the Rt Rev Benjamin Kwashi,

warns against jumping to the conclusion that the motive for the Jos attacks was religious. He fears that further polarising of the community could lead to ‘careless, opportunistic (and) senseless destruction of lives and property’.

He adds: ‘We are a community of hope, a product of hope, sustained by hope in the knowledge that he who saved us is exceedingly abundantly able to deliver from hell, from death, from darkness and from Satan.’

Release CEO Andy Dipper has called for prayer: ‘Please ask God to comfort and heal all those who mourn and who are injured. Pray that Christians in Jos and Maiduguri will cling to the hope that is Christ our Saviour.

‘And pray that international condemnation of these atrocities will prompt the Nigerian authorities to step up security in Christian communities across the nation.’

Source: Release International

Through its international network of missions Release supports Christians imprisoned for their faith and their families in 30 nations. It supports church workers, pastors and their families, and provides training, Bibles, Christian literature and broadcasts. Release is a member of the UK organisations Global Connections and the Evangelical Alliance.