Nigerian archbishop says recent violence was ethnic, not religious

Published: 2004-05-18

ABUJA, Nigeria (CNS) -- A Nigerian archbishop said the recent violence in his country was ethnic-based and not religious. Violence erupted in Nigeria in early May after the killing of as many as 600 Muslims by a predominantly Christian ethnic group in Yelwa, central Nigeria. On May 12, Muslim militants attacked and killed at least 30 Christians in Kano in northern Nigeria to avenge the killing of the Nigerian Muslims. Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Jos said the violence "is an ethnic problem basically that has some political bigotry, which tends to take advantage of religious sentiments." Father Gabriel Gowok, communications director for the Jos Archdiocese, said many people have been displaced by the violence. "Many people have lost their lives, and many are missing," he said of the violence in Kano.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .