I thank the Acting Chairman and Senator Walsh for their kind remarks. It is a pleasure to be back in the House. We soldiered here at the same time many moons ago. The Clerk Assistant who is present soldiered in those times also. It is good to be here in this wonderful Chamber and to have the opportunity to respond to some of the Senator's issues of concern.
This issue is particularly important. I am aware of Senator Walsh's long-expressed concern for human rights in Ireland, Northern Ireland and throughout the world. I am delighted, therefore, to have the opportunity to reply to his query. The Government shares the serious concern about the recent violence in Nigeria. We condemn all acts of sectarian violence against any section of the population, whether Christian, Muslim or otherwise. It is essential that the Government of Nigeria fulfil its obligations to uphold the rule of law and ensure the safety and security of all citizens in all parts of the country.
Recent weeks have seen a series of horrific bombings and attacks on civilian populations in parts of northern Nigeria. Responsibility for these has been claimed by the fundamentalist Islamist group Boko Haram, as mentioned by the Senator. The group has been waging a campaign of terrorist violence for several years, stepping up its activity since 2009. The group has been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of civilians and members of the Nigerian security forces. It is clear that Boko Haram operates as viciously against Muslims opposed to its views as it does against Christian communities. Among its recent victims was a senior Muslim cleric. It is also suspected of killing moderate members within its own ranks, including a leading figure who was involved in peace talks last year with former Nigerian President Obasanjo.
It seems the most recent Boko Haram attacks were deliberately timed to coincide with Christmas, targeting Christians and their places of worship. Approximately 50 people were killed when bombs exploded outside St. Theresa's Catholic church in Madalla in Niger state, just 40 km from the centre of Abuja, Nigeria's capital city. In other areas, churches were attacked, and worshippers and security personnel were killed.
There were also serious attacks against Muslim communities and symbols, some apparently in reprisal for the Boko Haram violence. On 27 December, a bomb was thrown at an Islamic school in the Niger Delta state, in southern Nigeria. This left six children injured. There have also been threats of further violence issued by some militant Christian leaders and groups, with a fresh report in recent days of an attack on a mosque in southern Nigeria.
The latest violence has, rightly, been widely and unequivocally condemned both within Nigeria and internationally. Senior religious leaders, including important Islamic leaders from across Nigeria, have also strongly condemned the attacks. The attacks were also quickly condemned by the European Union High Representative, Baroness Ashton, speaking on behalf of all EU member states, including Ireland. In her statement, the High Representative described the attacks as "cowardly" and condemned them in the strongest possible terms. Similar expressions of condemnation were issued by many world leaders, including the Pope, who referred to the attacks in his new year message, stressing that such violence can never be justified on religious grounds and that it is, in his words, ‘the antithesis of religion".
Boko Haram recently issued an ultimatum giving Christians and southerners living in the north three days to leave the region. This type of intimidation is unacceptable, and indicates Boko Haram's strategy, which is to terrorise opponents and moderates in its northern strongholds in order to try to achieve control of increasing amounts of territory in northern Nigeria. Ultimately, its aim is to gain power, through violence, in all of Nigeria. During 2011, in Abuja, Boko Haram bombed Nigeria's police headquarters in June, and was responsible for the suicide car bombing at the United Nations headquarters in Nigeria which killed a large number of UN officials and civilians in August.
The Nigerian Government faces a difficult challenge in responding to the threat posed by Boko Haram and is also facing the challenge of dealing with a number of other security threats, including from insurgents in the south of the country. On 31 December, President Jonathan declared a state of emergency in four states and pledged that the Government would defeat Boko Haram. However, he has also acknowledged that Boko Haram is a strong and dangerous enemy and that it may have infiltrated the country's administration and security agencies.
Ireland has an embassy in Abuja and our ambassador and his team there are monitoring developments closely and maintaining ongoing contact with the EU and other counterparts. The EU has expressed solidarity with the Nigerian authorities in its efforts to combat all forms and sources of terrorism in that country. Ireland fully subscribes to this position and we urge the Nigerian authorities to use all legitimate and lawful means to investigate acts of terrorism and violence, to bring the perpetrators to justice and to prevent further such acts in the future. We continue to monitor developments closely, through our embassy in Abuja and in consultation with our EU partners and the Nigerian authorities.
