The White House yesterday condemned the violent Christmas Day terrorist attacks on St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla, near Abuja, which led to the death of 26 people. Many others were injured.
“We condemn this senseless violence and tragic loss of lives on Christmas Day,” the White House said in a statement released, by White House Press Secretary Jay Carney, from Haawaii where President Barack Obama is vacationing.
“We have been in contact with Nigerian officials about what initially appeared to be terrorist acts, and pledge to assist them in bringing those responsible to justice,” it said.
The U.S. promised to help Nigeria find those responsible for the Christmas Day bombings.
John Campbell, a former U.S. ambassador to Nigeria, says Boko Haram has given voice to what he calls “a cloud of inchoate rage shaped by Islam”, that has brewed among northerners.
“(President) Jonathan needs to address this northern alienation, of which Boko Haram is only a symptom,” Campbell wrote in a recent op-ed for Foreign Affairs magazine.
“Too heavy a hand would risk alienating Nigeria’s 75 million Muslims, who already have legitimate grievances in the north. This, in turn, could undermine the very unity of Nigeria - something neither Washington nor Abuja can afford,” said Campbell, who is the Ralph Bunche senior fellow for Africa policy studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in New York.
Pope Benedict XVI again denounced the bombing of a Nigerian Catholic church, saying only respect and reconciliation can bring peace — not violence. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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