AFRICA/NIGERIA - Calm has returned to Maiduguri after serious riots on Saturday in which 15 people including a Catholic priest were killed. “Violence provoked by yet another attempt to exploit religion for political purposes” say local Church sources

Monday, 20 February 2006

Lagos (Fides Service)- “Calm has returned with police patrolling the streets” says Bishop Matthew Manoso Ndagoso of Maiduguri, main city in the north eastern state of Borno in Nigeria where on Saturday 18 February in serious episodes of violence the Bishop said “at least 15 people were killed including one of our priests Fr Michael Gajere”. The angry mob torched four Catholic churches, the Bishop’s residence and a number of Christian homes. The Bishop, elsewhere when his residence was attacked says: “my house was completely destroyed, but what is far more saddening is that many people were killed including Fr Michael, a priest ordained 14 years ago who had only lately come to work in our diocese”.
“This is the first time we see such serious incidents. In the past clashes were in other parts of the country” say local Church sources who explained what happened: “On Saturday morning a peaceful protest against the Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed at which the state governor also took part suddenly degenerated into violence with attacks on Christian churches and homes. Only the Catholic cathedral remained intact thanks to the courage and determination of one Catholic policeman who managed to persuade the mob not to set it on fire”.
“As in the past, once again someone was exploiting religion for political purposes. Those who foment such violence are extremists who do not represent the majority of Muslims who want to live in peace. Besides these extremists common criminals take the opportunity to steal from the homes which are then burnt and all traces of their crimes are removed”
Nigerian newspapers gave little space to the episodes in Maiduguri to help restore calm and prevent the violence from spreading to other parts of the country.
The violence was condemned by the secretary general of the supreme court of Nigeria for Islamic Affairs Lateef Adegbite who declared: "It is not Muslim to demand the life of innocent people and give way to material destruction. The non Muslims of Nigeria have nothing to do with the publication of the cartoons. We call on Christians to keep calm - he continued - and to avoid retaliation for this unfortunate episode. We should consider it a wild initiative of Muslims acting against the principles of Islam ". (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 20/2/2006 righe 38 parole 468)


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