"Western values are sin" -- Boko Harum

by Eric Dondero

In northeast Nigeria, the Islamists appear to have won a major victory over those promoting Western values. 25 Sports enthusiasts gathered at a local bar were killed last week.

From ModernGhana.com "Hunt for Nigeria beer garden attackers as 25 die" June 27:

"The attackers, believed to be Boko Haram members, threw bombs and fired indiscriminate gun shots on a packed tavern at Dala Kabompi neighbourhood, killing at least 25 people and seriously injuring around 30 others," a police superintendent said.

Emmanuel Okon, who sells charcoal-grilled beef on the fringes of the tavern, said: "I just heard a loud bang followed by sporadic shootings and plumes of black smoke filled the area with people screaming and running in all directions.

"The wounded and the dead lay on the ground and the place was littered with broken bottles and glasses and... shoes," he said.

And now this from BusinessDay:

The Federal Government has imposed earlier closing times on nightclubs, beer gardens and cinemas in Abuja and banned parking on two of the city’s major roads after a bomb attack at police headquarters two weeks ago.

Parks and gardens that admit children must close by 6 pm (1700 GMT), while cinemas, nightclubs, beer parlours and public pool areas must shut by 10 pm, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said.

“These measures are necessary to ensure adequate security of lives and property in the Federal Capital Territory as a result of the prevailing security concerns,” an e-mail from the FCTA spokesman said.

Beer gardens are the primary socialising areas in the evenings for many Nigerians, but they have become a target of bomb attacks claimed by Boko Haram, a radical Islamic sect from Maiduguri.

Further:

[The] Borno State is one of 12 that have Sharia law already in place, lax enforcement allows communal beer parlours to operate...

Witnesses and others said at least 25 people died in the beer parlor attacks...

“About 10 gunmen riding seven motorcycles surrounded and took strategic positions at the beer sheds and shops and started firing at the people with their Kalashnikov rifles, before setting ablaze the entire makeshift shacks,” he said.

While no arrests have been made over the beer parlor attacks, he said police arrested two men carrying explosives at a church in the city. He said they had pretended they wanted to convert from Islam.

Cowardice and surrender only serves to encourage the Islamists. Only firm resolve like the Israelis have shown for the past 60 years surrounded by overwhelming violent Arab opposition, will save their country from the Islamic hoarde.

Hoefully, the Nigerians will learn this lesson sooner rather than later.

Photo credit - Jaguda.com Global Post