Archbishop seeks foreign intervention to stop violence in Nigeria

July 10, 2012: The Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Ignatius Kaigama spoke to Vatican Radio and expressed his deep sadness over the killings in Nigeria. He said that "lives are being taken very casually. This doesn't seem to stop. it seems to increase. It is not only the ordinary villagers who are being killed, but also some senior government officials. It is so bad, and it is our prayer that something definitive will be done to stop the situation that is inhuman".

Dozens of people have been reported killed last weekend in the Nigerian Plateau State where ongoing violence has seen repeated attacks, mainly against the Christian community. Two Nigerian politicians died on Saturday during an attack on a funeral for victims of communal violence that led to at least 37 deaths.

The military said the funeral assault and Saturday's attacks on Christian villages near Jos in Plateau state were probably carried out by the same men. Muslim herdsmen from the Fulani ethnic group were blamed for the violence, but they denied any wrongdoing.

Archbishop Kaigama, who is currently in Rome where he was awarded a prize for peace building, said he has been speaking to his priests in Jos who feel sad and helpless. He said "there was a time when our words were very therapeutic in the sense they provided soccour for the people, and comfort. But when people are attacked repeatedly they despair". And now they are desparate and frustrated, he added.

Archbishop Kaigama said he has received many expressions of solidarity and on the request of the Federal House of Representatives he will celebrate Mass in Rome on Wednesday morning in sign of solidarity.

The Archbishop said he believes that "the issue must be approached collectively". "The issue of security cannot be left to just one country or one area. There has to be a collective effort, he said adding that he believes that with some proper intelligence networking, intelligence gathering" the violence can be stopped.

The Archbishop said he spoke to Plateau State Governer, whom he said, is devastated. "He told me he believed that the attackers were people hired from outside to come and cause this havoc. He believed they were hired and armed."