One will say that last Christmas day bombing was one too many in a chain of human carnages that had claimed hundreds of lives and properties worth millions of naira across the country. This dramatic twist in our coexistence is casting value at the continuous survival of Nigeria as a country especially from the religious point of view.Once in 1999, I and my elder brother were caught up in Rivers State a few days after a clash that claimed several Southerners' live in the North. As the corpses and wounded started arriving down South, tales of what transpired continued to come in different colorations generating outrage.I, from Kogi State, made me a Northerner. An average Nigerian from the monolithic south concludes we are all Muslims from the North and should be eliminated to satisfy their losses. Attempt to board a taxi to flee the imminent reprisal attack proved abortive when we realised the vehicle only had space for one passenger meanwhile, I was with my elder brother alongside hundreds waiting to be on the run.We waited for the next vehicle but no driver was ready to risk it as information continued to trickle in that at a place called Imo River, a group of agitated youths were slaughtering people believed to be from the Northern region. Our stomachs were raw with fear while our hearts palpitated like a man going to have heart attack.The same vehicle we were about to board earlier returned only with the remains of those who were alive less than two hours ago. They were slaughtered. We wondered if only we were in it the same fate would have befallen us. From that day I feel only safe wishfully and not practically anymore.Killing in most cases beget killing which may continue in a vicious circle of human carnage that may soon engulf the entire country which we all so love. A chain spread of those who died in the Madalla blast will show that they have relatives across the country not to talk of friends and well wishers. Putting the maths together to include those who are pathologically related to victims of such dastardly acts on religious basis, one can tell the level of awaiting vendetta.Comments on social media (facebook, twitter, blogs, etc) by Nigerian youths over the recent carnage show that things are truly beginning to fall apart as no one is concerned about being careful in presentation of views anymore but the main interest is to ventilate with the aim of getting at the other religion.Very soon, many Nigerians with self-seeking motives will leverage on this systematic killings to feather their own nests. Nobody knows how the ugly trend will end but as the pendulum continues to swing, Nigerians should brace up especially now that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has sounded the burgle to all Christians on the need to arm themselves in readiness to repel attacks.Taken for granted that it has become inevitable that Nigerians, especially Christians, must advance their own security measures on every given Sunday, the control of such amount of force no matter the magnitude is another source of worry. Overzealous youths with spill over anger could decide to execute free-minded Muslims whose only offence was to drive or walk past a church. The magnitude of whatever decision we take will have an echoing effect on the survival of Nigeria either for good or for bad.The killings have been described by many notable Nigerians as wanton and random destructions by aggrieved Nigerians who are expressing their displeasure over maladministration by the Federal Government. Now, the Sultan has established that Boko Haram is not a part of the Muslims he is heading in Nigeria, a balance therefore of these two submissions may not help change the position of bereaved families who will dismiss all as mere semantics.The Sultan will be remembered for his civility and nationalistic stance especially on this type of issue that borders on religion. Now, the sect has been disssociated from the entire Muslim community in Nigeria but they are not making things better as they claim they are acting in reprisal for killings perpetrated in Jos during the last Eid-ell Fitr festivity.Now, the atmosphere is charged with loath even among the youths who are the puns in every theatre of violence. All that is needed is an enemy of Nigeria (within or outside the country) to sponsor weapons and state-of 'the art bombs with manuals and lecture notes on counter 'terrorism'. When such lectures are put into practice one wonders what will be left of great Nigeria.Ebije is Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media in Niger State Government House, Minna.
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