Jos bombing: Archbishop Kwashi condemns reprisal attacks

[DT]

Archbishop of Jos Anglican Diocese Benjamin Kwashi yesterday described as unfortunate the killing of six Muslim Okada riders in Jos following Sunday's suicide bomb attack on Christ Chosen Church of God on Rukuba road in Jos which claimed about three lives.  The Special Task Force (STF) confirmed that the deceased were believed to be victims of mob action after the blast. The mob also destroyed property belonging to Muslims in parts of the city.

Kwashi, who spoke to the BBC Hausa Service monitored yesterday in Abuja, called on Jos residents to refrain from attacking innocent citizens anytime there is an attack, saying the action was capable of instigating violence in the city that has recorded relative peace in recent time.

"It does not help anybody to attack people because of an attack on a place of worship. There is need for political and religious leaders to educate their followers on the Plateau to understand that those who are bringing bombs are not from Jos, they are outsiders because we on the Plateau cherish peace and harmony.

"This issue of bombing is not peculiar to Plateau, it is something that is affecting the entire country," he said

Also reacting to the killings, Sheikh Alhassan Sa'id of the Jama'atul Izalatul Bidi'a wa'ikamatus Sunnah, wondered why Muslims in Jos are being attacked whenever there is a bomb blast.

"The attack is against the law and it also against common sense. No religion either Islam or Christianity condones attack on innocent person," he said and called on youths to refrain from mob actions and allow constituted authorities to investigate and punish culprits.

Also yesterday, the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Plateau State called on churches to provide their own unarmed security personnel for self identification of church members.

Speaking on Voice of America, Hausa Service, monitored yesterday in Abuja, JTF spokesman Captain Mdahyelya Markus, said there is need for people to enhance security personnel operation as without their help, the operation would not be effective.



Daily Trust