January 20, 2010

In the past week, religious conflict between Nigerian Muslims and Christians has taken hundreds of lives. More than 265 people are believed to have died, most of them Muslim. MPAC today called on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to speak out against the violence and send humanitarian aid to the impacted populations.

The Nigerian army has instituted a 24-hour curfew, to stop the riots in the city of Jos. However, news reports indicate that the violence has spread to Pankshin town. The city of 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.

Human rights groups fear that people are running short of food because they are confined to their homes as part of the 24-hour curfew. At least 5,000 people have fled the violence and are using army barracks and public buildings as temporary accommodation.