NIGERIA: Violence threatens Christians

NIGER, July 15, 2011 (CISA) –Militant Islamist Group bombed a protestant church where members were meeting after service on July 10 in Suleja, in Nigeria’s Niger Estate.
 According to Vatican Radio, there has been an upsurge of violence this week in Nigeria against Christian churches believed to be perpetrated by a fundamentalist Islamic Group known as Boko Haram.
 

Previously a man and two women died when a bomb exploded at the All Christian-Fellowship Mission in Suleja, while Maiduguri in north eastern Nigeria was rocked by violence that has been described as the worst this year.
 
Emer McCarthy spoke to Dr Khataza Gondwe, team leader for Africa and Middle East at Christian Solidarity Worldwide, about the upsurge in violence against Christians in the region and about the militant Islamist group Boko Haram.
 

She said that although no group has claimed responsibility for the blast, the attack follows unconfirmed reports of a message issued by the militant Islamist group Boko Haram warning Nigerians to avoid Christians, security agents, and government institutions and functions, or risk death.
 
Gondwe says that it is important that state and federal authorities ensure that adequate protection is afforded to these establishments, and that security is provided during church services.