Nigerian official: Hundreds killed in attack

AP ^ | Published: May 7, 2014 | Unattributed

[Mariner]

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Islamic militants killed hundreds of people in an attack on a border town in Nigeria's remote northeast, a state government official said Thursday.

Shops and homes were set ablaze and razed in the attack Monday night on Gamboru Ngala, on Nigeria's border with Cameroon, Borno state information commissioner Mohammed Bulama told The Associated Press by telephone.

He said the fatality "figures are high — hundreds — but we are still awaiting details from the military authorities."

As many as 300 people were killed in the attack, according to local newspapers. The militants sprayed gunfire into the crowds of people at a busy market that is open at night when temperatures cool in the semi-desert region, reported ThisDay newspaper.

Nigerian federal Senator Ahmed Zannah said the attack lasted about 12 hours, according to the newspaper. The insurgents set homes on fire and gunned down residents who tried to escape from the flames, reported the paper.

[Mariner]

I'm not on a hotplate at all.

I contend the US has no vital interest in Nigeria.

What is your position? So far I haven't seen you state one.

Is it your position that the US Military should intervene in Nigeria and root out the Islamists?

[Rashputin]

My position is we do have a vital interest in both Nigeria and in wiping out groups like Boko whenever we can.

We can contract to protect portions of Iraq, we could easily contract with people to take out Boko. Probably with people on the African continent with no US citizens involved. Wherever Muzzies think they can wipe out Christians with impunity it's in our interest to have them learn otherwise and it's easy enough to do without involving US troops.

[Mastador1]

Come on don’t be silly, no one in their right mind wants to see innocents killed and tortured the way these people are, so of course if they can be saved they should. But let me ask you this, why does it always have to be American lives put in jeopardy and lost? I seem to recall there are a lot of other countries with military, let them take a bigger role for a change. I don’t see where we need to be involved other than intel.

[Mariner]

Thank you. That's quite persuasive.

Yeah, I would not be opposed to issuing such contracts and I also think they could be quite effective especially if backed up by US Tech and Intelligence.

You know, my sister is so mad at me she could spit over my position on this matter. She is absolutely convinced that any human entity on the earth who is capable of finding and rescuing those girls in Nigeria...should immediately go out and get it done.

If I were still physically able I would consider such a contract as long as I didn't have to answer to some court when I got back.

But I am very reluctant to compel another man's son to do it on my behalf.

[Rashputin]

I agree it should be other people and there are more than enough people willing to do it if someone would train them and provide Intel. In the past we even compensated Israel for training people so we'd be "hands off" and there's no reason we should stand by and see this stuff continue since there are people willing to resist it.

For example, there are Christian militias in Syria that Assad arms, equips, and some say even trains. They have their own leaders and pick their own ops in coordination with the regular Syrian military but their primary function is to protect Christian towns from bands of Muzzies. In Syria, though, we provide equipment to Muzzie rebels, some of whom are such butchers even their fellow Mooze Lames fight them.

There could be Christian militias capable of taking on Boko and in other places as well if we weren't kissing Muzzie butt all the time. Militias made up entirely of the people threatened or at least made up of people from the same region. It's a matter of changing policy from kissing up to Mizzies to helping Christians defend themselves, that's all.

[Mariner]

"There could be Christian militias capable of taking on Boko and in other places as well if we weren't kissing Muzzie butt all the time. Militias made up entirely of the people threatened or at least made up of people from the same region. It's a matter of changing policy from kissing up to Mizzies to helping Christians defend themselves, that's all. "

There was a time the Roman Church used to help with such matters, providing both moral cover and real assets.

Hell, the Eastern Christian Churches too.

I think you're on to something.

In spite of you calling me a Muslim loving commie who drinks the blood of Christian babies whenever afforded the opportunity to do so.

[Rashputin]

I didn't call you a thing, I asked. That's a wake up call, not an accusation and I as a nation we're currently accomplices any way you cut it. As individuals, well, if we can't get our own government to abide by the Constitution within our own country all we can do is send what little help we can to whoever we can find that will do something.

The Catholic Church used to do a lot of things right, then came the sixties and a whole horde of Americans who were never taught, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Of course, that's a matter of opinion I guess and what do I know, I've only been Catholic a couple of years so I judge by what I've read.

[Vermont Lt]

But they are black. We have to help them.

That and they gots lots of oil.

//sarcasm

[Mariner]

"That and they gots lots of oil."

They can't keep it moving! And, it's not safe to be there for sane workers.

Hell, even in the crazy Muslim countries they have enough sense to keep the energy workers safe.

But not Nigeria.

[vox_freedom]

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[Mariner]

The last reference I can find of Catholic Church advocating for war:

In April 1917, two weeks after President Woodrow Wilson declared war on Germany, Cardinal James Gibbons of Baltimore, the de facto head of the U.S. Catholic church, issued a letter that all Catholics were to support the war.[27] The Episcopalian bishop of New York, William Manning said the following:

Our Lord Jesus Christ does not stand for peace at any price...Every true American would rather see this land face war than see her flag lowered in dishonor...I wish to say that, not only from the standpoint of a citizen, but from the standpoint of a minister of religion...I believe there is nothing that would be of such great practical benefit to us as universal military training for the men of our land.

If by Pacifism is meant the teaching that the use of force is never justifiable, then, however well meant, it is mistaken, and it is hurtful to the life of our country. And the Pacifism which takes the position that because war is evil, therefore all who engage in war, whether for offense or defense, are equally blameworthy, and to be condemned, is not only unreasonable, it is inexcusably unjust.[28]

However the Church does still teach Just War Doctrine in Catechism. It's just that none of the clergy seems to believe in it.

[Democrat_media]

wow those Muslims are like animals.

what’s in that cube , a meteor, a rock?

[steve8714]

No need for the tag, brother.

[steve8714]

No need for the tag, brother.

[VerySadAmerican]

It’s a peaceful religion.

[cherry]

I don't want to intervene but it might be good just to get this reported as widely as the Stirling madeup story....

where is the outrage?

[steve8714]

Which?

[RitchieAprile]

>Boko apparently gets plenty of Saudi money.

private or officially? anyway what happened to the schoolgirls is a travesty and I cannot imagine that
anyone with a sense of decency would not be outraged.

we can and should help find them, but the Nigerians have to ask for help first. its up to Nigeria to police its territory, and punish lawbreakers, and that is what Boko are.

as for their civil war, well, that is not something we can help with. we’ve tried intervening in civil wars before, and it has rarely had a happy ending.