The world must unite to stop religious killings in Nigeria

Relatives of churchgoers who were attacked by gunmen during Sunday's church service gather as health workers attend to victims. [Reuters]

The killing of worshippers in St Francis Catholic Church in Owo City, Southwestern Nigeria, last week was yet another manifestation that religious fundamentalism is alive and sustained by people with evil hearts. Reportedly, 50 people were killed. The figure was just an estimate as reports indicated more may have been killed.

As a foreigner, I do not claim to know much of the causes for the killing of innocent people expressing their faith in God through a right to worship as enshrined in the Human Rights declarations to which Nigeria is a member. However, the basic fact that the killers never come out to say who they are and what they are after is enough proof that the heinous acts target Christians.