Nigerian expats in Qatar condemm Christmas day attacks

Nigerian residents in Qatar have condemned the Christmas day suicide bombings which have claimed the lives of some 35 people in Nigeria, while calling upon the government to bring the perpetrators to book.
According to agency reports, the attacks included a church blast outside the capital - Abuja - killing at least 30 people, a bomb blast outside an evangelical church in the central city of Jos, that killed a police officer, and another explosion targeting a church in the northeastern area of Gadaka on Christmas Eve, but no one was reported killed, while two other blasts hit the northeastern city of Damaturu on Christmas Day, including the suicide bombing.
Some of the residents, a majority of whom are Muslims,  yesterday condemned the incidents while blaming them on political sentiments rather than religious divisions.
They blasted the government for condoning the deadly acts of a mastermind group “Boko haram”, which has been blamed for a series of attacks in different parts of Nigeria and also claiming responsibilities for the latest bombings in the country.
A good number of the people believed that the elements within the “Boko haram” group are the creations of the politicians, who have used them to actualise their electoral goals and thereafter refused to meet their requirements, an action which they said has turned the group into what they are today.
“It is very unfortunate that such incidents are happening in Nigeria and also unfortunate that they are being perpetrated in the name of Islam as those behind the dastardly acts always claim,” Nigerian Muslim Community in Qatar (Nimco) Amir Mohamed Basheer said.
He condemned the attacks and asked the Nigerian government not to be biased in fishing out the masterminds while also cautioning the use of violence against them in order to get to the root of the matter.
“While all well-meaning Muslims in Nigeria and abroad are against events like these, we will also advice the Nigerian government not to employ force in dealing with the so-called Islamist group. Instead, they should be invited for dialogue where they can air their grievances and seek possible solutions to end the bloodshed as soon as possible. I believe this might also bring to an end all these propaganda against Islam,” Basheer suggested.
Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation- Qatar chapter (NIDO-Qatar) secretary general Godfrey Awinoron, who is a Christian, asked the Nigerian government to deal decisively with the insurgent group saying “they are already a threat to the country’s stability”.
“The government should seek all legal means to remove the threat constituted by this group and seek avenues that will guarantee security of all Nigerians,” he suggested.
Another Nigerian Muslim, Abdulrahmon Olukade also absolved Islam from the group saying “they are not in any way related to Islam”.
“These particular group of people do not represent well-meaning Muslims in Nigeria and what they are doing is out-rightly against the teachings of Islam and it is very sad that many people find it difficult to believe this,” he lamented.
Olukade believed that the group behind the bombings must have the backings of some highly placed politicians, who were possibly sponsoring them.
“It is sad that innocent people are being killed while celebrating Christmas but I see those attacks more of being politically-motivated than what Boko haram can handle. This is just another sign of total lack of security of lives and properties in Nigeria,” Isa Ojetola , a Muslim, said.
A Nigerian Christian, Adeboye Dehinbo, said he was sad upon hearing the news. “Our government is not doing enough to ensure the  safety of the lives and properties of its people ,” he said.