AFRICA/NIGERIA - "If Maiduguri falls into the hands of Boko Haram, it would be a disaster for Africa as a continent"

Thursday, 5 February 2015

Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - "If Maiduguri falls into the hands of Boko Haram, it would be a disaster for all of Africa", says Fr. Gideon Obasogie, head of social communications of the Diocese of Maiduguri, capital of Borno State in northeastern Nigeria.
"Maiduguri is the state capital and the seat of Government, with all its structures, with a high concentration of state population and the commercial nerve of the northeast", explains Fr. Obasogie. "If the city falls, citizens will be more facile to radicalization and the terrorists will have more conscripts. Maiduguri for Boko Haram would become a strong base and then rumble into Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe and Adamawa. Finally, if Maiduguri falls, the militants would control an airport and a military base with the 7 Div. This is really and truly dangerous for Nigeria, as it is a potential disaster for Africa as a continent", emphasizes the priest. "So far - said Fr. Obasogie - the militants have conquered and occupied towns and villages near Maiduguri".
The priest describes the situation in the capital of Borno State: "With the recent waves of attacks, there is so much fear and tension in the air. With the February Polls drawing ever close we see all sorts of personalities with well fashioned and designed promises too good to be taken as true; trooping into Maiduguri and the northeast, not to identify with us in our plight but to beg for our votes".
"Citizens of Maiduguri as much as possible avoid crowded areas and the polling units would not be an exception, unless people’s security is assured and ensured. If anyone needs our votes, our safety must first be assured", concludes Fr. Obasogie. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 05/02/2015)


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