MORE KILLINGS IN JOS

News filtered in this morning that unknown persons attacked and killed three people in Kwata village, about 14 km from Jos, at about 11:30 pm last night. The village head was on State television saying that between 7 and 8 men, dressed in black, were seen speeding in a pick-up van and shouting, "The Fulanis are here. The Fulanis are here." The unknown men then proceeded to shoot the villagers sporadically killing 3 people and wounding 2 who are now in hospital.

A month ago, 7 persons were killed in Bassa LG in similar fashion. Of course, the Mazzah incident in Jos East LG of three months ago is still fresh in our memories.

Note that all these armed attacked were totally unprovoked. Also, the communities attacked have remained calm and law-abiding. The Dogo Na-Hawa and Kuru jenta attacks were also not avenged by the villagers.

As usual, the Joint Task Force (JTF) personnel stationed all over the Jos area, arrived after the deed was done and they could not arrest anyone. It appears these attackers have some understanding with the JTF. How come they search us thoroughly when we meet then while armed bandits seem to pass their check-points unnoticed? Should we retain the JTF after such dismal failure to defend us? Are we sure that the Fulanis and Muslims among them are being partisan in these repeated attacks?

WINSTON CHURCHILL ON ISLAM 1899

Winston Churchill On Islam A quote from an 1899 book by Winston Churchill, "The River War", in which he describes Muslims he apparently observed during Kitchener 's campaign in the Sudan

"How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property - either as a child, a wife, or a concubine - must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men. Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities.Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen; all know how to die; but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science - the science against which it had vainly struggled - the civilisation of modernEurope might fall, as fell the civilisation ofancient Rome." Someone should please correct this 100 year old impression.