Nigeria Riots Kill Hundreds

An around-the-clock curfew has been imposed after riots between Muslims and Christians saw hundreds killed in the worst violence in Nigeria in four years.

In the city of Jos, over 400 bodies have already been taken to the main mosque and apparently more are on the way. The local police have imposed a curfew after homes, mosques and churches were torched as political and religious opponents clashed following a local election. Sheikh Khaled Abubakar, the imam from the mosque, said "close on 400 bodies" had been laid out there. The death toll may be higher as people killed in the Christian community would not be taken there, indicating the death toll could be much higher. The clashes have led thousands to flee their homes. Christian clergyman Yakumu Pam said: "Hundreds of people have been killed in the last two days since the riots started. "Remains of burned bodies litter some parts of the town. It is so terrible." In September 2001, over 900 people were killed as Christian-Muslim violence flared. The year after, more than 200 died in rioting in the northern city of Kaduna.