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'Scores killed' in Nigeria riots 'Scores killed' in Nigeria riots
(30 minutes later)
Scores of people have been reported killed in suspected religious clashes near the central Nigerian city of Jos.Scores of people have been reported killed in suspected religious clashes near the central Nigerian city of Jos.
Witnesses said corpses were piled up in the village of Dogo-Nahawa, a few kilometres (miles) south of Jos.Witnesses said corpses were piled up in the village of Dogo-Nahawa, a few kilometres (miles) south of Jos.
A doctor at a hospital in Jos told Reuters news agency that victims had been cut by machetes and burnt. Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has put security forces in central Nigeria on full alert.
In January hundreds of people were killed in riots in the city, which lies between the mainly Muslim north and the more Christian south. In January hundreds of people were killed in riots in Jos, which lies between the mainly Muslim north and the more Christian south.
Ethnic and religious riots also broke out in 2008, killing hundreds.Ethnic and religious riots also broke out in 2008, killing hundreds.
Military deployedMilitary deployed
The attack happened before dawn on Sunday morning when gangs of men descended on the village and attacked people with machetes, reports say.The attack happened before dawn on Sunday morning when gangs of men descended on the village and attacked people with machetes, reports say.
A resident of Dogo-Nahawa said the attackers had fired guns as they entered the village.A resident of Dogo-Nahawa said the attackers had fired guns as they entered the village.
"The shooting was just meant to bring people from their houses and then when people came out they started cutting them with machetes," Peter Jang told Reuters."The shooting was just meant to bring people from their houses and then when people came out they started cutting them with machetes," Peter Jang told Reuters.
JOS, PLATEAU STATE Deadly riots in 2001, 2008 and 2010City divided into Christian and Muslim areas Divisions accentuated by system of classifying people as indigenes and settlers Hausa-speaking Muslims living in Jos for decades are still classified as settlers Settlers find it difficult to stand for electionDivisions also exist along party lines: Christians mostly back the ruling PDP; Muslims generally supporting the opposition ANPP
An unnamed government official told AFP at least 100 people had been killed - most of them women and children.An unnamed government official told AFP at least 100 people had been killed - most of them women and children.
Another eyewitness told the BBC he saw scores of dead bodies including those of children.Another eyewitness told the BBC he saw scores of dead bodies including those of children.
A doctor at a hospital in Jos told Reuters news agency that victims had been cut by machetes and burnt.
The military, which already has a presence in Jos, has sent troops to the village.The military, which already has a presence in Jos, has sent troops to the village.
"The Acting President has placed all the security forces in Plateau and neighbouring states on red alert so as to stem any cross-border dimensions to this latest conflict," Mr Jonathan's office said in a statement quoted by Reuters news agency.
He also ordered those behind the violence to be found.
Analysts say the attack seems to be in reprisal for the clashes between Christians and Muslims in January, which claimed the lives of at least 200 people and displaced thousands of others.Analysts say the attack seems to be in reprisal for the clashes between Christians and Muslims in January, which claimed the lives of at least 200 people and displaced thousands of others.
Hundreds of people have fled from Jos in the aftermath of the fighting, the Red Cross says.Hundreds of people have fled from Jos in the aftermath of the fighting, the Red Cross says.
Robin Waudo, a Red Cross spokesman, told the BBC his volunteers were assisting people wounded in the latest fighting. Robin Waudo, a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross, told the BBC his volunteers were assisting people wounded in the latest fighting.
"We know that late this morning there was some fighting in the south part of the city and it seems like there are reprisal attacks from what happened a few weeks ago," he said."We know that late this morning there was some fighting in the south part of the city and it seems like there are reprisal attacks from what happened a few weeks ago," he said.
"Right now, the fighting has calmed down and the military have been deployed to come and control the security situation.""Right now, the fighting has calmed down and the military have been deployed to come and control the security situation."
Another Red Cross official in the nearby state of Bauchi said more than 600 people had fled into makeshift camps there to escape the violence.Another Red Cross official in the nearby state of Bauchi said more than 600 people had fled into makeshift camps there to escape the violence.