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Nigeria riot city 'under control' | Nigeria riot city 'under control' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Nigerian army says it has regained control of the city of Jos, where fighting between Muslims and Christians in recent days has left scores dead. | The Nigerian army says it has regained control of the city of Jos, where fighting between Muslims and Christians in recent days has left scores dead. |
Lt Col Shekari Galadima told the BBC the city was "very calm" as the army was enforcing a 24-hour curfew. He insisted there would be no more riots. | Lt Col Shekari Galadima told the BBC the city was "very calm" as the army was enforcing a 24-hour curfew. He insisted there would be no more riots. |
But a BBC reporter in the region says the violence has now spread to Pankshin town, 100km (60 miles) from Jos. | But a BBC reporter in the region says the violence has now spread to Pankshin town, 100km (60 miles) from Jos. |
Rights groups say at least 200 people are believed to have died since Sunday. | Rights groups say at least 200 people are believed to have died since Sunday. |
Jos has been blighted by religious violence over the past decade. | Jos has been blighted by religious violence over the past decade. |
At least 200 people were killed in an outbreak of fighting between Muslims and Christians in 2008, while some 1,000 died in a riot in 2001. | At least 200 people were killed in an outbreak of fighting between Muslims and Christians in 2008, while some 1,000 died in a riot in 2001. |
Food fears | |
Col Galadima told the BBC's Network Africa programme that Jos city "has been brought under control tremendously". | Col Galadima told the BBC's Network Africa programme that Jos city "has been brought under control tremendously". |
"Because of the 24-hour curfew imposed by the government, movement has been restricted so you cannot have any riots or any demonstrations going on," he said. | "Because of the 24-hour curfew imposed by the government, movement has been restricted so you cannot have any riots or any demonstrations going on," he said. |
Buildings and vehicles were set alight during the riots | Buildings and vehicles were set alight during the riots |
"Our troops in combination with the police are fully deployed and fully on the ground to check all movements." | "Our troops in combination with the police are fully deployed and fully on the ground to check all movements." |
The Associated Press reported that soldiers with machine guns were patrolled the streets of Jos in the back of pick-up trucks. | |
Residents were stopping and raising their hands to show they were not a threat as the trucks passed, according to AP. | |
The BBC Hausa service's Shehu Saulawa says the violence appears to have spread much further than was previously thought - to the town of Pankshin. | |
He says reports claim public buildings in the town have been set alight, places of worship have been burnt and locals are appealing for the security forces to intervene. | |
Roadblocks have been set up on roads leading out of Plateau State and Christian and Muslim leaders have appealed for calm. | |
'Little faith' | |
The Red Cross, which was unable to get into Jos on Tuesday, says its workers have begun to treat the wounded. | |
Rights groups have expressed fears that people are running short of food because they are confined to their homes as part of the 24-hour curfew. | |
And about 5,000 people have fled the violence and are using army barracks and public buildings as temporary accommodation. | |
The Jos-based League for Human Rights said people have little faith in the security forces to restore order. | |
The group's Shamaki Gad told the BBC that no-one had been prosecuted for participating in previous religious and ethnic clashes. | The group's Shamaki Gad told the BBC that no-one had been prosecuted for participating in previous religious and ethnic clashes. |
Jos is in Nigeria's volatile Middle Belt - between the mainly Muslim north and the south where the majority is Christian or follow traditional religions. | Jos is in Nigeria's volatile Middle Belt - between the mainly Muslim north and the south where the majority is Christian or follow 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. |
It is unclear what the trigger was for the latest bout of violence. | It is unclear what the trigger was for the latest bout of violence. |
Plateau State spokesman Dan Manjang told Network Africa there were reports that it may have started after a football match. | Plateau State spokesman Dan Manjang told Network Africa there were reports that it may have started after a football match. |
But he said it would be surprising if football was the reason. | But he said it would be surprising if football was the reason. |
Reuters quoted residents as saying the violence started after an argument over the rebuilding of homes destroyed in the 2008 clashes. | Reuters quoted residents as saying the violence started after an argument over the rebuilding of homes destroyed in the 2008 clashes. |