Nigerian archbishop says violent attacks organized by outside forces

January 04, 2011

There is a “clear religious motivation” behind recent attacks on Christians in Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama of Jos has told the Fides news service.

Whereas previous violent incidents in the Plateau state could be attributed to tribal or economic tensions, the Christmas-eve bombings that killed dozens of people at Christian churches— soon followed by other assaults by armed men—were obviously designed “to hit these important symbols of Christianity during the most sacred celebrations,” the archbishop said. He noted, too, that earlier clashes had involved guns and some firearms, while the latest attacks had involved bombs and armed groups.

Archbishop Kaigama suspected that the attacks were intended to destabilize Nigeria. He added that he thought the bombings were organized by “someone from outside the country lighting the fire.”

 

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Further information:

• “They want to destabilize Nigeria, with attacks on Christian places of symbolic importance" (Fides)