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'Scores dead' in Nigeria clashes | |
(10 minutes later) | |
At least 149 people have been killed during two days of violence between Christian and Muslim gangs in the Nigerian city of Jos, officials say. | At least 149 people have been killed during two days of violence between Christian and Muslim gangs in the Nigerian city of Jos, officials say. |
Mosque workers and Muslim clerics told reporters of the deaths as they prepared for a mass burial. | Mosque workers and Muslim clerics told reporters of the deaths as they prepared for a mass burial. |
The death toll has not been verified independently and it is not known how many Christians have died. | The death toll has not been verified independently and it is not known how many Christians have died. |
The clashes broke out on Sunday and have continued since, with reports of gunfire and burning buildings. | The clashes broke out on Sunday and have continued since, with reports of gunfire and burning buildings. |
A 24-hour curfew has been enforced in the area, which has seen several bouts of deadly violence in recent years. | A 24-hour curfew has been enforced in the area, which has seen several bouts of deadly violence in recent years. |
At least 200 people were killed in an incident between Muslims and Christians in 2008, while some 1,000 died in a riot in 2001. | |
The current violence has forced at least 3,000 people from their homes. | The current violence has forced at least 3,000 people from their homes. |
ANALYSIS Shehu SaulawaBBC Hausa | |
Jos has long been a time-bomb waiting to explode. | |
The town is divided into Christian and Muslim areas. The divisions have been made worse by Nigeria's system of classifying people as indigenes and settlers. | |
Hausa-speaking Muslims have been living in Jos for many decades but are still classified as settlers, meaning it is difficult for them to stand for election. | |
The two groups are also divided along party political lines with Christians mostly backing the ruling PDP, and Muslims generally supporting the opposition ANPP. | |
In Nigeria, political office means access to resources. | |
But Balarabe Dawud, head of the Central Mosque in Jos, told AFP news agency he had now counted 192 bodies since Sunday. | But Balarabe Dawud, head of the Central Mosque in Jos, told AFP news agency he had now counted 192 bodies since Sunday. |
Muhammad Tanko Shittu, a mosque worker who was helping to prepare mass burials, told Reuters he had counted 149 bodies. | Muhammad Tanko Shittu, a mosque worker who was helping to prepare mass burials, told Reuters he had counted 149 bodies. |
"On Sunday evening, we buried 19 corpses and 52 yesterday. As of right now, there are 78 at the mosque yet to be buried," he said. | "On Sunday evening, we buried 19 corpses and 52 yesterday. As of right now, there are 78 at the mosque yet to be buried," he said. |
Anglican Archbishop of Jos Benjamin Kwashi told the BBC that the situation was improving in the city centre, where security forces have been deployed. | Anglican Archbishop of Jos Benjamin Kwashi told the BBC that the situation was improving in the city centre, where security forces have been deployed. |
But the violence spread beyond the city boundaries on Tuesday to neighbouring areas. | But the violence spread beyond the city boundaries on Tuesday to neighbouring areas. |
Jos is in Nigeria's volatile Middle Belt - between the mainly Muslim north and the south where the majority is Christian or follows traditional religions. | Jos is in Nigeria's volatile Middle Belt - between the mainly Muslim north and the south where the majority is Christian or follows traditional religions. |
Correspondents say such clashes in Nigeria are often blamed on sectarianism. | Correspondents say such clashes in Nigeria are often blamed on sectarianism. |
However poverty and access to resources such as land often lie at the root of the violence. | However poverty and access to resources such as land often lie at the root of the violence. |