An umbrella group representing various Christian churches in Nigeria said on Friday it had pulled out of peace talks with Muslims in the volatile northern Nigerian state of Kaduna after accusing Islamic militants of mounting a new spate of attacks on Christians across the north.
| "Piss on it. You can't talk to those people." |
For three years, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has been in government-backed talks with its Muslim counterpart, Jamatuul Nasir Islam (JNI) in Kaduna State in a bid to end the sectarian violence.
| And nothing's happened but piles of dead people, has it? |
More than 3,000 people have died in clashes in the state capital of Kaduna, since 2000. However, CAN leaders said on Friday that the process has been undermined by a series of attacks against Christians that have claimed more than 1,000 lives and razed 63 churches since the beginning of the year. The latest incident took place in the town of Makarfi, 150 km north of Kaduna city on 4 April. Islamic militants burnt down nine churches in the town.
| There's always some sort of reason for the guys with turbans to burn down churches and slaughter anybody without a turban... |
âRight now we have withdrawn from the peace process because of these attacks,â Saidu Dogo, secretary general of CAN in northern Nigeria, told IRIN. No deaths were reported during the disturbances at Makarfi, but according to Dogo, the story is very different in central Plateau State. There, CAN report more than 1,000 people - mostly Christians and followers of traditional religions - have been killed since the beginning of the year. CAN have blamed the attacks on Muslims. More than 50 churches were also burned down, the association said. Violence has raged intermittently between Muslims and Christians in Plateau State since September 2001, when an outburst of sectarian violence in the capital, Jos, claimed more than 1,000 lives.
| Yasss... The violence has raged between the Muslims and the Christians. No doubt there's fault to be found on both sides. No doubt we are all responsible... |
But Abulkadir Orire, JNI secretary general, challenged CANâs claims, saying most of the victims of the clashes in Plateau state were Muslims.
| "Yes! Yes! The Christians are vicious! They kill us! They rape our women, even though our women don't have any pubic lips! They steal our stuff!" |
The JNI blamed the recent violence in Makarfi on unnamed âdisgruntled elementsâ that were using restless and frustrated Muslim youths to achieve selfish socio-economic and political ambitions. The Islamic group called on the Nigerian authorities to probe these incidents that have âcreated distrustâ between Muslims and Christians.
| Yeah. Most people tend to distrust a group that comes swooping into town and burns down all the churches and slaughters as many people as they can. |
In recent years, tension between Christians and Muslims has been fed by mutual suspicions following the introduction of the strict Islamic or Shariah legal code by 12 states in Nigeriaâs mainly Muslim north.
| ... but surely that couldn't have anything to do with it? |
|