Fundamentalist Islamic violence threatens Christians in Nigeria and Niger

An upsurge of violence this week in Niger and in Nigeria against Christian churches seems to bear the responsibility of an increasingly violent fundamentalist Islamic Group.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said a bomb blast on Sunday, July 10, in an evangelical church in Suleja , in Nigeria Niger State, occurred when several church members were taking part in a committee meeting after the church service.

And 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, most probably responsible for the attacks…

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.

She says that it is important that state and federal authorities ensure that adequate protection is afforded to these establishments, and that security is deployed during church services.

Listen to the full interview...