The Christian Association of Nigeria sees this as a declaration of war. To do this, Boko Haram said jihad, holy war against Christians and Christians must respond in kind.But this reaction is just as senseless as it is dangerous. Against which Christians must defend themselves? Against all Muslims? How the Christian community to fight the guerrillas Boko Haram is effective?And especially where such violence is tit-for-tat run a country like Nigeria, a country locked in an impasse between Christians and Muslims?It seems unthinkable that anyone would seriously want to inflame the situation. This could plunge the most populous country in Africa and 150 million people in a civil war, and seeing it fall apart, divided along religious lines.But the church leader's statements do not raise uncomfortable questions:Why the Nigerian government unable to protect lives, property and churches of the Christians of the country? And why have none of the possible Islamist arsonists and bombers were taken, despite a visible police and military presence in the form of roadblocks in key areas of unrest - and despite patrols by special commandos of the army Nigerian police and heavily armed?The machine-gun-toting, motorcycle riding gangs do not commit their murderous acts in one way or secret discreet. Boko Haram terrorists are not invisible. Those who are willing to listen know what the targets could be next. Every year around Christmas, it is much too predictable that the churches will be among them. It should be of arbitrary order, of impunity rather than protection. The State has failed - but why?
Unless the President Goodluck Jonathan arrives with a quick and convincing on this issue, terrorism could endanger his own grip on power.There are more than a clash of religions and ideologies behind the violence in northern Nigeria. It is also about power, influence, money and resources. Some Nigerian states, even in northern countries, where Christians and Muslims live in harmony, where the political compromise and understanding have helped to maintain good relations. As a Muslim religious leader put it, there is no conflict between Muslims and Christians, only between good and bad. Clearly, many people see a greater advantage in an escalation of violence than they do in peace, because neither Christians nor Muslims nor the Nigerian government has not taken any effective measures to de-escalation.Why religion becomes a vehicle for violence? In this region, religion is a powerful and simple, which can be used to reach the illiterate and the majority of the population. Around the cities of northern Nigeria, little green signs at the intersection to remind the faithful of their beliefs. "God, our forgiveness," "Allah, our hope" Whether in the many churches bearing fanciful names, large and small green roofs of mosques in the cities or simple prayer halls in the fields, in this region, faith is not a private matter but an important part of public life.Boko Haram, who carried out terrorist attacks in northern Nigeria since 2009, uses this. Since August at the latest, when the group bombed a UN building in the capital Abuja, attacks Boko Haram took a new dimension. It is likely that the group is now linked with Al Qaeda. This changes the ideological superstructure and the destructive power of terror, and brings with it the danger that reach al-Qaeda can spread from the Sahel to Nigeria. This would in turn means that the terrorist group would expand further in Africa.If the reports are confirmed that Boko Haram is in league with Al Qaeda, it will be even more essential to disrupt the group's pool as quickly as possible - through education and targeted programs that offer development opportunities to youth in northern oil-rich country.The message to political and religious leaders of Nigeria should be this: do not waste time with bluster - rather, work to create a culture of responsible policy in this state with its many ethnic religions - and determined to take a united stand against violence. Its about time.
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