In the last few days twelve health care workers have been brutally murdered by suspected Islamists in northern Nigeria. This applies to three separate attacks whereby nine Nigerian female vaccinators were gunned down in two incidents. Their only crime was trying to stem the tide against polio but in the eyes of Islamists they are worthy to be killed. Meanwhile, three North Korean doctors have just been murdered whereby one was beheaded and the other two had their throats slit like animals for slaughter. It is known that a militant Muslim cleric spoke out against the vaccination drive by whipping up fear. However, it isn’t clear if this is connected with both attacks because Islamists often murder people in parts of Nigeria. The brutal murder of female health care workers in Nigeria sadly resembles a similar massacre which took place in Pakistan by fellow Islamists. Therefore, in the twisted world of militant Islamists it is fair game to murder doctors, health care workers and educators who teach young girls. This reality means that people face being killed in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria, for merely trying to help humanity. Despite this, many patrons throughout the Gulf region and in other nations are allowed to spread this dangerous ideology – which seeks to crush Muslim diversity and to enslave non-Muslims – based on their theory of hate. Magaji Musa, a police spokesperson, commented about the two attacks in the Kano area which killed nine people, that “Gunmen on bikes opened fire on a health centre in the Hotoro district killing seven, while an attack on Zaira Road area of the city claimed two lives.” President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria denounced the latest murders. He stated that “The government will continue to do everything possible to track down and apprehend agents of terrorism in the country.” In the latest brutal attack which killed three North Koreans it was reported by AP that “Assailants in northeastern Nigeria killed three North Korean doctors, beheading one of the physicians, in the latest attack on health workers in a nation under assault by a radical Islamic sect, officials said Sunday.” “The deaths Saturday night of the doctors in Potiskum, a town in Yobe state long under attack by the sect known as Boko Haram, comes after gunmen killed at least nine women administering polio vaccines in Kano, the major city of Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north.” Blame is being pinned on Boko Haram which is a militant Islamist group that seeks the implementation of Islamic Sharia law in its entirety. Yet, in the past this group claimed responsibility for its brutal attacks; therefore, you have some fears that splinter groups have either been created – or you may have new Islamist groups emerging – either way, this angle is most worrying. Of course, it could be that Boko Haram is feeling real pressure therefore this movement is going even further underground in order to escape detection. Whatever the truth is, it is clear that Nigerian authorities are worried about this new dimension. One can only imagine the fear of the three North Korean doctors when machete wielding Islamists broke into their home. The same applies to the Nigerian health care workers who were gunned down by militants. After all, these individuals had dedicated their lives to helping society and caring about humanity. However, the anti-forces of humanity murdered them while believing that this is their sacred religious duty. Nigeria faces a very dangerous internal enemy which seeks to crush diversity and to turn the clock back to “year zero.” In their world all and sundry are open to be persecuted because “the other” is hated; irrespective if the “other” is Muslim or non-Muslim. Indeed, Islamists have attacked several leading indigenous Muslim figures in Nigeria and recently the emir of Kano was lucky to survive an attack against his life. Sadly, the rise of militant Islam is growing in parts of Nigeria and clearly health workers are easy targets for the people of hate. leejay@moderntokyotimes.com http://moderntokyotimes.com