Posted on 12/31/2003 11:31:44 PM PST by miltonim
In the pre-dawn hours of December 18, a combined team of army, air force and police personnel stormed a Muslim militant stronghold in the city of Jos, Nigeria, to pre-empt extremist attacks on Christians during the Christmas holidays.
“The operation was carried out in order to avert religious crisis and maintain peace and order in the state,” Mr. Innocent Ilozuoke, Plateau state police commissioner, told the press following the raid.
He said the Nigerian government ordered the operation after receiving reports that militants had brought reinforcements from Niger and Cameroon Republics to attack Christians on Christmas Day.
Police arrested 175 militants in the raid; among them was Mallam Ibrahim Mai-Mai, who allegedly masterminded the impending attack.
Four Muslims reportedly died in the raid.
Spokesmen for the Jama’atu Nasir Islam organization characterized the raid as “an act of aggression against innocent Muslims.”
Observers believe the incessant attacks on Christians in this part of Nigeria are meant to weaken what Muslim extremists perceive to be a strong Christian base of operation.
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