Background: Since Sunday July 26th 2009, there has been an outbreak of sectarian violence in Northern Nigeria led by an extremist Islamic sect known as Boko Haram. The sect is understood to be against western education and democracy. The violence which began in Bauchi State spread to other towns and cities of the Northwest with members of the sect attacking government buildings and Police Stations. Several days of gun battles between the Nigerian security forces and the sect resulted in over 600 deaths including the execution of the sect leader Mohammed Yusuf in police custody. This development comes on the back of the report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, released on 1st May this year, which noted that more than 10,000 Nigerians have been killed in sectarian violence since 1999 and which recommended that the country be included amongst the 13 countries of ‘particular concern’.
Statement:
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1. We are disturbed by the recurring cycle of religious and sectarian violence in different parts of Northern Nigeria. The situation where non-Muslims are repeatedly forced from their own homes to seek refuge from their fellow countrymen is unacceptable.
2. We are dismayed that acts of terrorism of such magnitude could be planned and executed in several states without the knowledge of our National Intelligence apparatus. The report of the existence of a training school owned by the militants is shocking and while we welcome the report that the Chairman of the Muslim Council of Nigeria, Alhaji Majindi, ordered the withdrawal of his grandchildren from the school, we are concerned that he appears to have taken no further steps to bring the school’s activities to the attention of the relevant authorities.
3. While we congratulate the security forces for bringing the situation under control, we are most uncomfortable with the extra-judicial killing of the sect leader Mohammed Yusuf while in Police custody.
4. For Nigeria to survive as one country, there must be zero tolerance of religious intolerance. There can be no no-go areas in the country for non-Muslims. .
THE GENESIS PROJECT
The Genesis Project is a think tank on Nigerian political affairs. It’s website is www.genesis-1.org . For further information contact [email protected] or call +234(0)8063767306 or +44(0)7946292464
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