Lagos (Agenzia Fides)- At least 7 people were killed in attacks on two police stations in the north eastern Nigerian state of Borno by groups who claimed to be Talibans Some 40 armed men wearing red bandannas and launching cries of “Allah is great” attacked police stations at Bama and Gworza some 40 km apart. The attackers took away arms and 5 hostages. According to local police one hostage who escaped said at least two other hostages had been killed.
“Police and army are hunting down the group of Taliban, but reports are still contradictory. Some say the attackers were not Nigerians and that they spoke in Arabic. But this has not been confirmed by the authorities” local sources who prefer not to be named told Fides.
However the group is obviously able to operate across the Nigeria Cameroon frontier. The Nigerian government has asked Cameroon to step up border control to prevent further attacks. In fact the Nigerian authorities are certain armed groups are hiding in the Mandara mountains which mark the Nigeria Cameroon border.
Earlier this year when Taliban groups carried out several attacks in Yobe state, some were killed and others were arrested by the police. Nigerian security forces say those who escaped from police capture took refuge in Niger where they prepared for these latest attacks. According to the police the group now consists of only a few hundred but very hardened elements.
These latest attacks confirm fears that Islamic fundamentalist exists and is spreading in west Africa. In Mauritania this week there was a meeting of INTERPOL to discuss joint operations and exchange of information to prevent cross frontier terrorism and crime in Africa. The meeting was attended by representatives of 19 countries of Africa, Europe, Asia and America. Radical Islamic groups are said to be taking root not only in northern Nigeria but also in poorer countries in this region such as Niger, Mali, Mauritania. Which means that religious fundamentalism meets fundamentalism born of hunger and poverty: an explosive and dangerous mixture which the developed world appears to ignore. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 23/9/2004 righe 35 parole 419)