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Inaccurate reporting could endanger Christians in Nigeria
by Scott Gilbreath ~ December 2nd, 2008
Christians in Jos state, Nigeria, are upset by “biased and inaccurate” media reports of last weekend’s rioting and destruction. Most media reports stated that Muslim-Christian violence broke out after election tallies were announced but, in fact, organised and armed mobs of Muslims launched co-ordinated attacks on Christian homes, churches, and businesses even before results were made known.
Of even greater concern are reports that appeared to suggest that Christians had killed 300 Muslims over the weekend, whose bodies were deposited at a central mosque. In reality, the men died while obeying orders from a mosque in the Dilimi area, which was using its loudspeakers to instruct all Muslims to defy the authorities, participate in the “jihad”, loot properties for money and then burn them. Local security sources insist the rioters were shot while defying a night-time curfew and launching fresh attacks, including an unsuccessful large-scale assault on police barracks. Commenting on these deaths the General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Engineer Salifu said: “It was not Christians who killed them; it was their own unfortunate attitude”. He also articulated local concern that such inaccurate reporting could fuel further violence against Christians elsewhere.
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There is also growing evidence that the weekend’s violence may have been planned in advance. So far 500 Muslim rioters have been arrested, some of whom were dressed in fake police and military uniforms. Two hundred are now known to be citizens of the neighbouring Republic of Niger, while 300 are from the northern Nigerian states of Kano, Katsina and Sokoto. Some of the rioters informed police that they arrived in Jos three days prior to the violence. “They had weapons, many weapons” said another source, “they were ready, very ready”.
The Rt Rev Dr Benjamin Kwashi, Anglican Archbishop of Jos, provides corroborating information.
1. The Governor of Plateau State has stated very clearly that no Muslim was killed in a mosque in Jos. Please pray against the adverse effects of untrue propoganda in the international press.
2. Amonst [sic] the several hundred people arrested are many foreign muslim mercenaries who were well armed. NB These have killed both Christians and Muslims because, being aliens, they do not know who is who.
Archbishop Peter Akinola, Primate of the Church of Nigeria, calls on authorities to identify the instigators and accuses the government of hypocrisy and hiding its head in the sand over ongoing sectarian violence.
The final death toll from past weekend’s attacks has not yet been estimated. So far, four pastors are known to have been killed and 16 churches destroyed.
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December 2nd, 2008 at 03:15 PM
Yes, but the press is simply being “fair and balanced”. After all, “one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter”. And they mustn’t offend the peace loving Muslims, on fear of death.
December 4th, 2008 at 03:34 PM
[...] INACCURATE REPORTING could endanger Christians in Nigeria …. [...]