http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/06-nearly-150-dead-during-clashes-in-nigeria-rs-01
Nearly 150 dead during clashes in Nigeria Tuesday, 19 Jan, 2010 KANO: Nearly 150 Nigerians have been killed in three days of clashes between Muslim and Christian gangs in the capital of a central state, where police imposed a 24-hour curfew. "On Sunday evening, we buried 19 corpses and 52 yesterday. As of right now, there are 78 at the mosque yet to be buried," said Muhammad Tanko Shittu, a worker organising the mass burials at the main mosque in Jos, adding 90 people had been injured. Security forces were trying to prevent a repetition of clashes in November 2008, in which hundreds of residents were killed in the country's worst fighting between Muslim and Christian gangs in years. "In view of this situation in town, I hereby declare a 24-hour curfew starting from now," Gregory Anyating, Plateau state's police commissioner, said earlier on Tuesday. Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan, who has taken over ceremonial duties from ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua, has directed the national security adviser and top police officials to take the necessary action to restore calm to the city. "I assure you that the federal government is on top of the situation in Jos and the situation is under control," said Ima Niboro, spokesman for the vice-president. It was not known whether Yar'Adua, in hospital in Saudi Arabia for nearly two months, has been briefed on the situation. Residents said sporadic gunfire could be heard in many neighbourhoods and several houses were on fire. There were reports that the violence had spread to at least seven communities outside Jos, but this could not be independently confirmed. One police officer said the fighting in his neighbourhood had subsided since the curfew was announced. Dr. Aboi Madaki, who works at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, said gunshots and machinegun fire could be heard as early as 4 a.m. (0300 GMT) and continued for hours afterwards. "I saw soldiers moving into town and I can see smoke coming from many places," he said. The Red Cross has sent 10 workers from their Nigerian headquarters in Abuja to help reinforce their office in Jos, an agency spokesman said. This week's violence started after an argument between Muslim and Christian neighbours over the rebuilding of homes destroyed in the 2008 clashes. -Reuters [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
