Operation Barbarossa: The Threat To Bomb Mosques, Hajj Camps

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) recently signified its intention to commence bombing of mosques, hajj camps and other Islamic institutions in the country, from May 31.

militant-in-nigeria

Spokesman of the group, Jomo Gbomo, warned the nation via an e-mailed statement that the militants will also assassinate clerics that propagate doctrines of hatred and bomb large congregations at Islamic events in a campaign that has been code-named “Operation Barbarossa.”

If MEND makes good these threats, there will be a dangerous expansion of the theatre of terrorism in the country, with dire consequences for national security and unity.

These threats came barely one week after the same group claimed responsibility for the killing of 12 policemen along the creek of Azuazuama in Bayelsa State, and the bombing of an oil facility belonging to the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

The militants, however, said they would not carry out the threatened attacks if the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Catholic Church in Nigeria and Henry Okah, one of its leaders who was recently jailed by a South African court for terrorism, intervene in the resolution of its dispute with the Nigerian authorities.

Surprisingly, MEND said the planned attack against Islamic targets is to save Christianity from extinction in Nigeria, and, it would be stopped if there is an assurance of cessation of hostilities against Christians in their worship places by the Boko Haram leadership.

Although the Joint Task Force (JTF) in charge of security in the Niger Delta has described the latest attacks and threats of MEND as the handiwork of criminals using the name of the militant group to spread panic in the Niger Delta, we admonish the security agencies to take this fresh threat seriously.

It is imperative that they do everything possible to prevent the attacks, as Niger Delta militants have been known to make good their threats in the past. We advise MEND against the plan to bomb mosques and other Islamic targets. Such action is clearly inexpedient to the quest for security in the country.

By such attacks, MEND will simply be playing into the hands of Boko Haram, which may like its campaign of violence to degenerate into a conflict between Christians and Muslims in the country.

This fresh MEND threat is clearly out of place. It has been suggested in some quarters that it is designed to gain the sympathy and support of Christians and to create relevance for Okah in order to aid pressure for his release. We see no sense at all in the threat to attack Islamic targets.

The present insecurity and conflict in the country should not be allowed to become a fight between Christians and Muslims in the country. Such a development is sure to have serious consequences that may degenerate into a religious war.

It will be suicidal to have MEND and Boko Haram going into confrontation. This can only escalate the already worrisome violence and insecurity in the country. Up till now, the Boko Haram campaign has largely been limited to the Northern part of the country. Turning the Niger Delta campaign into a conflict between Southern Christians and Boko Haram in the North will be deleterious to the corporate existence of Nigeria. Even though the incessant attacks on Christians in Northern Nigeria by Boko Haram is reprehensible, it will not do anyone any good to have the conflict become a Northern versus Southern Nigeria war.

Moreover, bombing of mosques is outside the scope of the campaign against despoliation and neglect of the Niger Delta on which MEND built its reputation. Let the Federal Government take serious steps to curb this fresh insurgency in the Niger Delta. The security agencies must be on their toes to contain the threat from MEND. Nigerians cannot continue to live with the endless bloodletting in the country. It is not good for the people and for business.

It is also a dent to the country’s image. If the MEND threat is allowed to degenerate into a conflict between Niger Delta insurgents and Boko Haram elements, nobody can predict where it will all end. Let the government and all well-meaning Nigerians prevail on MEND to drop this plan that can only escalate insecurity in the country.

Source: Daily Sun

4 COMMENTS

  1. the person that wrote the conclusion of this letter is a basterd and will forever be, you nor want make them bomb mosque but them day bomb church and you nor talk, you will remain a full…na we get oil na we nor get road na we get everything na we day suffer, an Hausa men will want to punish there children from doing wrong they will send them to asia to come and study(and they call it punishment) see abeg my bros make una focus more on mosque bombing…the church when them don bomb don too much …since the government is failing and have not strenght please help them by retalating…even in bible God said if some one slap you in the right side turn the left for him brother the left can be a gun or knife…see make una carry on their own don too much…them nor no aso rock? why demn nor fit go bomb am our president day eat food with 1 billion a year and them nor do anything but them sabi bomb church when people day warship God me i am very angry so i need to say my mind…Mr president should quietly resign and let a better person continue…when OBJ day this kind bullshit nor fit happen na….well i nor blame the man sha person from deputy governor become president watin you expect….lol time go come the rich will eat grass and the poor will get rich go and mark it….make them share that nigeria self…thos basterd north own don too much

  2. @man on top, bastard, idiot, mumu, stupid, mad man, and any other from of insult is not enought to decribe d kind of person u are, d only thing u hav succeeded in is disclosing ur ignorance of christianity as well as humanity and as such u are nothing but an insane animal in human form. Do u think going to war will solve this problem? Count how many mosque we hav in Anambra or any big state in d south and count d number of churches we hav in just kano. Ar u aware of the fact that nothern muslims dat stay in d sounth are not up to 10% of southern christains dat stay in the north? who do u think will suffer more if mosques and churches should be attacked. we destroy their very few mosqueses in d south and dey destroy our large number of churches in north, wats d gain? We all want d country to be divide but nt with hostilities, ignorant bastards like u doesnt knw or experiance any violence or war dats why u ar praying for it. If we cant see things d way they are and hold millions of innocent people for an offence committed by few among them wat makes d difference btwn us nd dos vampires called boko haram? Our prejudice and hatred for d north will make us leave God and take decisions dat will giv us a very severe consequences..

  3. MEND or whatever if you did not carry out your threats then you are a group of bastards.start bombing the mosques and we will burn the churches and we will see who will suffer more.let me remind you that muslims are not afraid of death because we are sure that we are worshiping one God, unlike you who worship 1/3 god.shege ya fasa!