Plea for help when the government can't help
Ignatius Kaigama, Catholic Archbishop of Jos, asks for help from Western powers because the Nigerian government and army seem helpless. How wide spread is that sentiment and how will it affect the coming election?Nigerian archbishop accuses West
The Catholic Archbishop of Jos, in central Nigeria, has accused the West of ignoring the threat of the militant Islamist group, Boko Haram…
Ignatius Kaigama
His warning came after 23 people were killed by three female suicide bombers, one reported to be 10 years old.
The weekend attacks come after reports that hundreds of people were killed last week during the capture by Boko Haram of the town of Baga in Borno state.
Archbishop Kaigama told the BBC's Newsday programme that the slaughter in Baga had shown that the Nigerian military was unable to tackle Boko Haram.
"It is a monumental tragedy. It has saddened all of Nigeria. But... we seem to be helpless. Because if we could stop Boko Haram, we would have done it right away. But they continue to attack, and kill and capture territories... with such impunity," he said…
In June, Britain said it would increase its military and educational aid to help Nigeria tackle Boko Haram.
The aid includes counter-insurgency training for troops, which is also being provided by the US military.
However, Nigeria has criticised the US for refusing to sell it weapons because of alleged human rights abuses committed by Nigerian troops…
Jos, where the archbishop is based, has a mixed population of Muslims and Christians and has faced attacks by Islamist militants, although it is some distance from Boko Haram's strongholds.
Last month more than 30 people were killed in twin bomb attacks on a market there.
Jos, northeast of Abuja
Churches have also been targeted in what are believed to be attempts by the militants to foment religious tension…
Analysis By Will Ross, BBC News, Lagos
The violence is relentless and increasingly shocking…
Sometimes Nigeria's military has recorded successes…
But the military faces a mountainous task trying to protect civilians from the bombers and gunmen who are spread over a large area of the north-east and although officials don't like to hear it, they have often been overpowered and failed to protect civilians….
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Labels: cleavages, Nigeria, politics, terrorism
posted by Ken Wedding @ 5:30 AM
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