Agenzia Fides report - At least 34 people died caused by a bomb in a cattle market which took place yesterday afternoon, May 2, in Potiskum, in the north-east of Nigeria. According to agency sources, the toll of the attack is set to worsen and the victims might be fifty. The information is still sparse. the victims were killed during an assault committed by a criminal gang who opened fire and launched explosive devices onto the crowd.
At present, the prevailing hypothesis is that this was a particularly heinous act of banditry. But one cannot yet completely rule out the possibility that the assault was committed by members of the Boko Haram sect, who recently committed attacks against several targets, including places of Christian worship.
If the involvement of Boko Haram were confirmed in this attack, it would sound like a prophetic warning, are the words by Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, Archbishop of Jos and President of the Episcopal Conference of Nigeria released just days ago, complaining of the inefficiency of the security forces, he said: "one must ask where will the next attack be. In an airport? In an open market or in another crowded place?" ( See Fides 04/30/2012).
Archbishop Kaigama also reiterated that "the Church, especially the Catholic, is a goal." The alarm was raised by the President of the Association of Christians in Nigeria (CAN) Ayo Oritsejafor, who asked the authorities to stop terrorism against Christians, even to prevent reprisals. Ayo Oritsejafor appealed to all Nigerians to remain calm and not to follow the path of violence. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 03/05/2012)
At present, the prevailing hypothesis is that this was a particularly heinous act of banditry. But one cannot yet completely rule out the possibility that the assault was committed by members of the Boko Haram sect, who recently committed attacks against several targets, including places of Christian worship.
If the involvement of Boko Haram were confirmed in this attack, it would sound like a prophetic warning, are the words by Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, Archbishop of Jos and President of the Episcopal Conference of Nigeria released just days ago, complaining of the inefficiency of the security forces, he said: "one must ask where will the next attack be. In an airport? In an open market or in another crowded place?" ( See Fides 04/30/2012).
Archbishop Kaigama also reiterated that "the Church, especially the Catholic, is a goal." The alarm was raised by the President of the Association of Christians in Nigeria (CAN) Ayo Oritsejafor, who asked the authorities to stop terrorism against Christians, even to prevent reprisals. Ayo Oritsejafor appealed to all Nigerians to remain calm and not to follow the path of violence. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 03/05/2012)
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