Muslim raid kills 48 (Christians)in Nigeria

[papau]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1156666,00.html

Muslim raid kills 48 in Nigeria

Reuters
Thursday February 26, 2004
The Guardian

At least 48 people have been killed in the latest outbreak of religious violence in Plateau state, central Nigeria, the police said yesterday.

They were hacked down on Tuesday when Muslim warriors attacked Yelwa town in the mainly Christian district of Shendam.

The Plateau police commissioner, Innocent Ilozuoke, told reporters in the state capital, Jos: "The victims were pursued to a church - they ran to for refuge and were killed.

"Forty-eight of them died instantly." <snip>

More than 100 people have been killed in clashes between Christians and Muslims in southern Plateau in the past two years: in 2001 more than 1,000 were killed. <snip>

[Milspec]

1. Muslim warriors !!!

They were hacked down on Tuesday when Muslim warriors attacked Yelwa town in the mainly Christian district of Shendam.

warriors!!???

The term warrior should not be applied in this case, perhaps murders?

[PsychoDad]

2. The violence has been on both sides....

For some time now... I think both groups are also ethnicly differnt, and this is the true root of the hostility.

Also, there are Nigerian muslims who have decried this evil.

“We go to the pulpits or the rostrum either in the churches or in the mosques, and in the name of our Creator make speeches, which can bring about violence in this country. We forget that we shall all give account to the almighty Allah for all our actions,” -Governor Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi.

"No religion will support violence, harassment, victimisation and all vices, let alone murdering of innocent people. No religion will encourage segregation, discrimination and suppression." - Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido, the sultan of Sokoto and the spiritual head of Nigerian Muslims

[mobuto]

3. I would hope so!

Also, there are Nigerian muslims who have decried this evil.

If there weren't, now that would be newsworthy. I think you're right on this. The religious divide mirrors longstanding ethnic divisions, and the Northern tribes are fighting the Southern tribes for control.