163 people have been arrested in connection with the massacre earlier this month in central Nigeria. Of the 163 arrested, 41 will be charged with homicide, according to spokesman Emmanuel Ojukwu. The other 122 will be charged with rioting, arson and possession of firearms.
The massacre occurred on March 7 in predominantly Christian towns near the city of Jos, where about 150 people, mostly Muslims, were reported killed in January. More than 200 people were killed in the March 7th massacre. The ethnic backgrounds of those arrested are mixed, but they are all from the area near Jos. The attacks with guns, machetes, and knives were apparently in retaliation to the previous attacks against Islamic communities. Last week, at least 11 more were killed in a predominantly Christian village.
The violence has put Nigeria on edge. Authorities have sent text messages to residents to attempt to put them at ease. The violence puts Christians and Muslims against each other. However, the attacks are fueled by more than just religion. Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjof has said that these attacks are driven by ethnic, social, and economic problems.
The division of Nigeria has been a common occurrence for quite some time now. Social structures are vying for more power and therefore strike down others. Retaliatory attacks lead to more violence. With the government and constitution under reform, there is little structure for citizens to fall under. In addition, UN units of help have been ordered out of the nation and no longer have any control. With little assistance, the future of Nigeria may include a civil war or possible acts of genocide. In this case, intervention is necessary.
I agree with your statement that violence could escalate in Nigeria and lead to possible civil war and genocide. Similar ethnic and racial tensions have also fueled the genocide in Darfur, and Africa has a long history of ethnic and racial violence. The reported arrests of Muslim Nigerians who recently massacred Christians, brings up several other issues. Such as the fact that this was a retaliation for the earlier massacre of Muslims by Christians. Not only were reports of the violence against Muslims under-reported, but similar action by authorities to apprehend the Christians who had killed Muslims was not mentioned. Inequalities in our treatment of these different religious groups will only fuel tensions.
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