Friday, December 30, 2011

After Christmas Violence in Nigeria, Muslims Becomes Targets (The Atlantic Wire)

A homemade bomb was thrown at an Arabic school in southern Nigeria two days after a series of bombings that targeted churches on Christmas Day. No deaths were?reported?in Tuesday's assault, but among the wounded were six children under the age of nine.?

Related: Radical Sect in Nigeria Kills More Than 100

In a?separate?incident,?a Christian family was murdered?by gunmen in what police reportedly claim was a "religious?attack."

Related: Car Bomb Explodes at U.N. Offices in Nigeria

The recent increase in violence is raising concerns that a full-scale religious war could break out in a nation that is divided roughly in half between Muslims and Christians populations. Boko Haram, an Islamic militant group that opposes the Nigerian government, claimed?responsibility?for the Christmas attack that killed 32 people observing the holiday mass. It was the second year in a row that Christians had been targeted during the holiday. Those attacks came amid ongoing clashes between Boko Haram and government forces in the northern city of Damatruru that have forced around 90,000 people to flee their homes. Many of those who left have refused to move into?government?sponsored camps for fear that would make them an easier target.

Related: The Politics and Logistics Behind Bin Laden's Watery Grave

Religious leaders on both sides have condemned the attacks, but are finding it difficult to control individuals seeking revenge or who believe they're acting in self defense; particularly when one side, Boko Haram, is accused of trying to "disintegrate" the country,?

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/religion/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/atlantic/20111228/wl_atlantic/afterchristmasviolencenigeriamuslimsbecomestargets46713

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