Fear Grips Nigeria Muslims As MEND Threaten To Unleash Terror

Fears have gripped Nigeria’s Muslims after threats by militants in the country’s oil-rich delta to attack mosques, religious leaders and hajj camps on claims of defending Christianity.

“MEND surely has the reputation and means to carry out the threatened terrorist attacks,” Disu Kamor, chief executive at the Muslim Public Affairs Center (MPAC), told OnIslam.net.

“Due to this fact, we call on the Nigerian government to take the threat seriously, to publicly condemn it and make tangible efforts to protect Muslims and their places of worship.”

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has threatened attacks against mosques, Muslim leaders and hajj camps “in defense of Christianity” against the militant Boko Haram.

The militant group said the attacks will start by May 31 unless the umbrella Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Catholic Church order a halt.

"The bombings of mosques, hajj camps, Islamic institutions, large congregations in Islamic events and assassinations of clerics that propagate doctrines of hate will form the core mission of this crusade," MEND spokesman Jomo Gbomo has said in an e-mailed statement.

But the threat has sparked fears among Nigerian Muslims over possible attacks by the militant group.

Shakirat Abdulmajeed, spokesperson for The Criterion, an influential group of Muslim women professionals, said Muslims are genuinely apprehensive.

“The Muslim community has repeatedly denounced Boko Haram as not representing Islam and Muslims,” Abdulmajeed told OnIslam.net.

“It would therefore be most unfair for anyone to unleash violence on Muslims for what they know nothing about.”

Operating from oil-rich Niger Delta, MEND is one of Nigeria's foremost terror gangs that seeks to control the region's oil wealth.

The group, which operates in Nigeria's south - especially in oil-rich Niger Delta areas, including Lagos and Ondo, focuses its attacks on Nigerian security forces and facilities.

Boko Haram, a radical Muslim group, has escalated attacks against Nigerian security forces and churches in revenge to what it says injustice done to Muslims.

Muslims have repeatedly denounced Boko Haram attacks as running against the Islamic teachings.

“The Boko Haram violence does not discriminate between Muslims and Christians,” Abdulmajeed said.

“And since their activities are mainly in the Muslim North it is perhaps safe to say Muslims are worst hit in the mayhem.”