Riots in Maiduguri in the northern Nigerian state of Borno on February 18 have left as many as fifty-eight people dead, most of them Christians. As Muslims demonstrated against the Mohammed cartoons first published in Denmark, they turned their anger toward local Christians. The demonstrators began destroying shops and homes owned by Christians and burned at least thirty church buildings. Many of those who were killed were beaten to death in the streets of the city. The Nigerian newspaper, "The Daily Sun" recounted the story of Joseph Tukwa who watched helplessly as six of his children were burnt to ashes. Father Matthew Gajere was killed in St Rita's Catholic Church after heroically saving the lives of the altar boys who were present. The authorities were eventually able to contain the violence and over 100 arrests have been made. Soldiers have been sent into the area and a curfew has been imposed.
Similar demonstrations held on February 18 in the city of Katsina left at least one dead and several injured.
On February 20, other riots erupted in the city of Bauchi, unconnected to the Danish cartoons. They began after a teacher tried to confiscate a Quran from a student who was reading it during class. Word got out alleging that the teacher had desecrated the Quran. Muslim youths retaliated by setting fire to two churches and to several vehicles on the streets. Police responded with tear gas. When this failed to restore order, they opened fire with live bullets. At least ten people were killed and over one hundred were treated for injuries.
Church leaders were fearful of reciprocal violence from among their younger members. The head of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Anglican Archbishop Peter Akinola, warned, "CAN may no longer be able to contain our restive youths should this ugly trend continue." Sadly, his fears were realized when Christian youths in the southern city Onitsha went on a rampage on February 21 in reprisal for the violence in the north. Two mosques were burned and at least six Muslims who were from northern Nigeria were reported to have been killed.
Pray that the Lord will enable those in authority to stop the violence. Pray that the Christian young people will learn not to respond to violence with violence but with the attitude of Jesus (1 Peter 2:21-23). Ask the Lord to bring comfort and peace to those who have lost loves ones in the attacks.
For more information on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, click here. A video report on Nigeria filmed in late 2005 is available on https://www.vomcanada.com/.
The Voice of the Martyrs in Canada is preparing to send relief aid to the families of those who have suffered in this recent wave of anti-Christian violence in northern Nigeria. If you would like to assist in letting our brothers and sisters know that they are not forgotten during these days, you can make a donation online to VOMC's "Family of Martyrs Fund."
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