AFRICA/NIGERIA - Even a Catholic church was destroyed in the attacks in the north-east of the Country; "corrupt politicians foment violence" reports to Fides the Bishop of Maiduguri

Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - Even a Catholic church was destroyed in a series of bombings that occurred in Damataru in the north-east of Nigeria. This is confirmed to Fides by His Exc. Mgr. Oliver Dashe Doeme, Bishop of Maiduguri, capital of the neighboring State of Borno. "Damataru, despite being the capital of Yobe State, is part of my diocese. In yesterday's assault even a Catholic parish church was burned and destroyed", said Mgr. Doeme.
On 4 November, in Damataru, a series of coordinated attacks with the use of explosives targeted the police headquarters, police stations and six different churches in the Christian area of Jerusalem. The victims, according to provisional estimates, are at least 60, and several are wounded. Previously, several attempts had shocked Maiduguri and other surrounding areas. In Maiduguri, in particular, there were three suicide bombings against army barracks (in turn accused of serious crimes against the civilian population). The attacks are attributed to the militant Islamic Boko Haram sect, which according to several sources have formed an alliance with Al Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb.
With regards to the roots of this violence which for months have been upsetting the north-east of Nigeria, and threatening the rest of the Country (Boko Haram has carried out two terrorist attacks in Abuja, the federal capital, against the command of the police and the UN in Nigeria ), the Bishop of Maiduguri says: "The causes of this violence are manifold. There are social, economic, political and religious reasons. In particular, there are some powerful people in our society who are losing their importance and use religion to incite the minds of uneducated youth to sow violence".
"There is a strong level of indoctrination based on the belief that if one dies fighting for the cause he will go to heaven" denounces Mgr. Doem. "So, these bad teachers say, 'kill without problems because you will go to heaven'. In fact these young people are exploited by greedy politicians who are losing relevance, and want to still remain in power to continue to improve their finances".
Mgr. Doem does not exclude that there are also foreign influences that fuel violence, but insists that "corruption is the root of all social, political and economic evil in the Country". (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 05/11/2011)