OVERSEAS REACTION: NIGERIA

UNCLAS ABUJA 002559 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR TASK FORCE 1 - PD, S/ES, AF/PD, AF/W LAGOS FOR CG, POL, PAS E.O. 12598: N/A TAGS: KPAO OPRC NI SUBJECT: OVERSEAS REACTION: NIGERIA REFTEL: SECSTATE 175484 ¶1. Press reporting of humanitarian actions: The humanitarian actions were reported as straight news in Nigerian newspapers on Monday, October 8, quoting President Bush, but this news was buried deep in the stories that focused on the attacks on Taleban targets. Only one newspaper, the Nigerian Tribune in Ibadan, headlined the humanitarian support. ¶2. Nigerian government support for the U.S.: A few Monday newspapers and most Tuesday newspapers reported the Nigerian government's support for the U.S. action against against terrorists. It was stated by Tunji Oseni, the Senior Special Media Assistant to President Obasanjo. The Kaduna-based, government-owned ew Nigerian, eported on 10/9, for instance, r. Tunji Oseni, Senior Special Media Assistant to the Nigerian President reiterates Nigeria support for actions aimed at combating terrorism. It is in the interest of all peoples to make the world a safer place for all, especially for civilians who are engaged in their normal day-to-day activities. ¶3. Reactions from local Islamic leaders to attacks on Taleban targets: The Abuja-based independent aily Trust 10/9),reports Nigerians reactions to the attacks on Taleban targets: rom Katsina, former Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Mamman Abubakar Dan Musa, yesterday warned the United States and her allies of the possibility of hostilities escalating further, endangering the fragile world peace and security . . . A Katsina-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Yakubu Musa described the attacks on Afghanistan as a ploy by the US and her allies to strangulate the Afghan people in particular and Islam in general. From Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, former Grand Khadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Alhaji Abdulkadir Orire criticized the American military action in Afghanistan as nworkable A University don in the Department of Islamic studies in the University of Jos who is also Chief Imam of the Fiber Mosque in Jos described the attacks as hocking ince investigations into the September 11 attacks are still ongoing. Sheikh Uthman bin Uthman, Chairman, Islamic Propagation Committee of Kano State said, by its military option, America has finally proved to the world that its primary objective was not to attack bin Laden but Islam. Sheikh Shehu Mai Hula, a Kano-based Islamic scholar lambasted Northern Nigerian Muslim governors for not organizing support for Afghanistan and bin Laden despite their claim of Sharia implementation. ¶4. Food drops by the U.S.: In an article headlined "US, Britain Attack Afghanistan: Kano Ulama declares support for Bin Laden, he Abuja-based independent aily Trust 10/8),reported : he Chairman of Kano State Council of Ulama, Sheikh Umar Ibrahim, has criticized the humanitarian drops by the USAF as eceptive Sheikh Umar told over 5000 Muslims who gathered at the Aliyu bin Abi Talib Mosque yesterday in Kano that the humanitarian assistance to Afghan refugees by the United States is deceptive because America created the problem in the first place He stated that Muslims in Afghanistan and, indeed, the whole world are not afraid of America arsenals because they are less superior to "laila-ha-illalah" (there is no deity worthy of worship save Allah). JETER