The sun is going away, but don't panic ...
The Nigerian government, anxious to avoid a repeat of riots that marked a solar eclipse in 2001, warned citizens they may suffer "psychological discomfort" during a new eclipse this month but urged them not to panic.
Information Minister Frank Nweke said an eclipse five years ago caused riots in northern Borno state because people did not know why it happened.
"Some people even felt some evil people in their communities were responsible for the eclipse," he said in a statement on Thursday aimed at reassuring Nigerians that the eclipse is expected to darken parts of the country on March 29. "Others are convinced that the Iraqi people are correct in their feelings that 'the American Satan' has chosen to punish the whole bunch of them." Their rationale is that "Satan did not cause the sun to go away in America, why is he punishing us?" Their belief is that an extended period of worship of their God will appease God to return their sun to them after a period of darkness.
"The eclipse is not expected to have any real damaging effect, only social and psychological discomforts are envisaged," Nweke said, "So many of our citizens are not that well informed."
He did not explain what the discomforts might be.
Copyright 2006 Reuters Limited.
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