Pope Benedict: an end to violence in Nigeria

"Our young people are tired of being used, they are tired of this violence. Our young Christians and Muslims want peace. This Boko Haram group targets people indiscriminately, Christian and Muslim, they are not just anti-Christian they are anti-civil society and the government must tackle them", says Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Jos, Vice President of the Nigerian Bishop's Conference welcoming Pope Benedict XVI's appeal this Sunday for an end to violence in the country.

Following the midday Angelus prayer the Holy Father said : “I am following with concern the tragic incidents that have occurred in recent days in Nigeria and, as I pray for the victims, I call for an end to all violence, which never solves problems, but only increases them, sowing hatred and division even among believers”.

The Nigerian Red Cross reports that more than 100 died in a series of attacks in northeast Nigeria’s Yobe and Borno states launched by a radical Muslim group known as Boko Haram. The group wants to implement strict Shariah law across Nigeria, an oil-rich nation of more than 160 million which has a predominantly Christian south and a Muslim north. Its name means ``Western education is sacrilege'' in the local Hausa language.

“They attack Christians and Muslims indiscriminately” says Archbishop Kaigama of Jos, Vice President of the Nigerian bishops Conference. “The attacks which occurred ahead of Sunday's Eid al-Adha celebration, have targeted not only Churches but police and military barracks. Our police are Christian and Muslim, they are even targeting other Muslim leaders. Boko Haram are not anti-Christian, they are anti-civil society. The government cannot dialogue with these people who kill they must confront them”.

He adds that young people are being used by the elders who exploit their desperation at rising poverty and unemployment to foment ethnic disaccord. Yet, adds Archbishop Kaigama, whose own diocese of Jos has often been the scene of brutal inter-ethnic clashes, there are signs of hope”.

“Only this week a group of young people Christian and Muslim came to me and told me they were tired of being used. They admitted they were the perpetrators of violence in the past but now they want to commit themselves to peace. Today [Sunday-ed], here in Jos, they are celebrating the feast of Muslim al-Adha together, Christian and Muslim. We hope to do the same at Christmas. Religious leaders here are really coming together to work for peace”.

Archbishop Kaigama also calls on the central government to do its part by targeting the root causes of this violence: “We need a large injection of funds for education. Many of the young people caught up in this extremist activity are illiterate, they have no education and no hope for the future. The government must give them the tools to become a constructive and not destructive force for the good of society”. Listen to Emer McCarthy's full interview with Archbishop Kaigama: