Archbishop Ben Kwashi calls for increased security in Jos
There are warnings that growing violence in Nigeria is being instigated by extremists who want to stir up religious violence and create a state of emergency ahead of the Presidential elections. The Archbishop of Jos fears the city could be overrun and is calling for increased security.
A recent blast killed two suspected bombers, but failed to catch the churchgoers for which it was probably intended. In other attacks in Jos three Christians were killed and six stabbed.
These are just the latest in a series of attacks which have claimed hundreds of lives over the past year. A partner of Release International, which serves persecuted Christians, believes the aim behind the attacks is to whip up sectarian violence ahead of the April elections.
The Stefanos Foundation points to a newspaper statement calling for jihad allegedly published by a Jos Muslim Elders Forum on December 30 2010 - days after the latest round of violence erupted.
It said: 'Muslims in the State shall ensure that a few months before General Elections jihad will be declared in the State, which cannot be controlled even by security agencies, with great slaughter and massacre, which the Federal Government will have no option than to declare a State of Emergency in Plateau.'
‘We’re deeply concerned about these latest attacks,’ says Release CEO Andy Dipper. ‘The continuing targeting of Christians appears to be a deliberate move to provoke a backlash and sectarian violence – an attempt to destabilise the community ahead of the elections. Release urges Nigeria’s Christians to stay vigilant, but to refuse to be drawn into a spiral of violence.’
Archbishop of Jos, the Most Rev Dr Benjamin Kwashi told Release: ‘No-one is willing to accept that the Christian church is under attack. It is difficult for people to understand that Jos could be overrun. The government has been negligent, and the world will not help.’
He acknowledged that some Christians had been driven to defend themselves and were in danger of being drawn into a spiral of violence.
‘Even the Muslims are not safe – though we have been working very hard to keep them safe in our area of town.
‘Revenge I will never support. But those who wish to defend themselves, I cannot stop. People have had enough of this. It’s been going on for 30 years. The government must do more to provide security for everybody.
‘But you know, the only real answer is prayer. I trust God to defend us. I have been threatened with death personally three times. In all three times, the Lord has rescued me.’
There were two failed bomb attacks against churches on Sunday. Release has been told the bombers may have been trying to get round heightened security by targeting worshippers as they were walking home.
The likely targets were members of the Church of Christ In Nigeria (COCIN) and of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Nasawara Gwom, a mainly Christian district of Jos, in Nigeria’s central Plateau State. It’s been reported that two prominent Christian politicians were attending the services.
According to reports men rode into the area on a motorcycle. Witnesses say they dropped the bomb, which exploded, killing them and damaging a nearby shop. An angry crowd turned on another motorcyclist who was acting suspiciously, and killed him. It’s not known whether he was, in fact, another bomber, or a passer-by caught up in the ensuing panic.
Tensions had been heightened by earlier warnings in Jos that bomb attacks against churches were likely.
Despite increased security in advance of next month’s Presidential elections militants managed to plant a second bomb on Sunday behind the headquarters of the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministry. This was discovered and made safe.
According to Nigerian media reports many churches ended their services early after the bomb blast rang out. But Release partners deny reports that Christians are fleeing the city. ‘People are concerned,’ says a spokesman for the Stefanos Foundation, ‘but they are also very security conscious. Besides, they have lived here all their lives – where would they go?’
Police routinely search worship areas before services, but the approach taken by the motorcycle bombers on Sunday may have been to circumvent that. Commissioner of Police Abdelrahaman Akano told the Nigerian News Service, ‘We are not neglecting the fact that worship areas are targets.’
Sectarian violence has been increasing in Nigeria during the build-up to the elections on April 9. Last week security forces intercepted a truck load of explosives and ammunition in Jos.
Plateau state is on the dividing line between the predominantly Muslim north and the Christian south of the country. There is a history of conflict between different ethnic groups in the region vying for control of fertile land.
In March 2010, militants massacred more than 500 Christians near Jos. Bomb attacks followed on Christmas Eve, attributed to an Islamist sect known as Boko Haram, which means ‘Western education is sinful’.
On March 13, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for murdering a moderate Muslim cleric in Maiduguri, Borno State, who had been advocating non-violence.
Meanwhile in Bauchi state, there are reports that upwards of 4,000 people have been driven from their homes after night attacks by armed Fulani that began on March 10. Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports the attackers burnt down 13 churches in villages, along with upwards of 450 homes. The militants, numbering around 2,000, are said to be wearing police uniforms.
Bauchi and Borno states have imposed Islamic Shari’a law – despite Nigeria having a secular constitution. Christians in both states have been driven from their homes.
‘This continuing violence against Christians has to be stopped,’ says Release CEO Andy Dipper. ‘And Christians must refuse to be caught up in a violent backlash. We are encouraged by the news that churches are being routinely checked for bombs, but it’s clear that these two attacks on Sunday could have resulted in a severe loss of life, had they been successful.
‘Again we strongly urge the Nigerian authorities to step up their protection of Christian communities in the run-up to the elections.’