Posted on 01/27/2004 6:17:25 AM PST by miltonim
Muslim extremists burned down 10 churches and over 100 church-owned properties in November during unprovoked attacks against Christians in the town of Kazaure.
According to Rev. Umaru Dutse, Chairman of the Jigawa state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), an undetermined number of Christians also died in the attacks.
Dutse said Muslim fanatics justified the attacks with claims that a local Christian blasphemed the prophet Mohammed, but the CAN official believes the blasphemy charge was merely a pretext.
The attack is (part of) premeditated and continuous persecution of the Christian community here, Dutse said.
We have faced these attacks over the years.
Meanwhile, the government of Plateau state has banned an Islamic group believed to be financing incessant aggression against Christians over the past two years.
In a radio and television broadcast, Plateau governor Joshua Dariye charged the Council of Ulamas with conducting activities inimical to the peaceful co-existence of Muslims and Christians.
Dariye said his government will not allow fundamentalist Muslim leaders to give tacit support to religious terrorism.
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