2008 Jos riots
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The 2008 Jos riots were riots involving Christians and Muslims over the result of a local election on November 28 and 29, 2008 in Jos, a community in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria.[1][2] Two days of rioting left over 400 injured and 381 killed.[3]
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[edit] Causes
Electoral workers did not publicly list the winners of the elections, and rumors began that the election was won by the candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), barrister Timothy Gyang Buba,[4] defeating the candidate for the All Nigerian Peoples Party. People from the largely Muslim Hausa community, who form the majority in the northern regions of Nigeria, began protesting the results, and violence escalated between them and the Christians, who largely supported Buba.[5]
[edit] Riots
The rioting led to the death of over 381 people in central Nigeria in only two days of clashing,[6] and several homes, mosques, churches and a seminary were damaged or burned by mobs.[7][8] The Nigerian Red Cross Society reported that 10,000 people fled their homes due to the riots,[2] and were living in government-provided shelters.[5] Nigerian soldiers were sent into Jos to break up the fighting and create a buffer zone between the Christians and Muslims.[9] Many armed youths of both sides were arrested.[9]
[edit] Effects
Jonah Jang, the governor of the Plateau State, imposed a 24-hour curfew on four districts of the city, and soldiers are permitted to "shoot on sight" in order to prevent more violence.[5] Flights to and from Jos were cancelled and roads to the north were blocked.[7]
Similar riots in 2001 between Christians and Muslims also killed hundreds.[7][10]
The Nigerian army arrived on the 30th, and order was restored.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ "7,070 displaced persons in 10 camps in Jos, Nigeria", Xinhua (2008-12-06).
- ^ a b "Riots 'kill hundreds in Nigeria'", BBC News (2008-11-29). Retrieved on 30 November 2008.
- ^ "Nigeria: Jos Riots - Death Toll Hits 400y: witnesses", AFP (2008-11-29). Retrieved on 30 November 2008.
- ^ "Nigeria: Dozens Killed in Jos LG Election Riot". Allafrica.com (2008-11-29). Retrieved on 30 November 2008.
- ^ a b c "At Least 200 Die in Nigeria Clashes", The New York Times (2008-11-29). Retrieved on 30 November 2008.
- ^ "Hundreds dead in Nigerian riots", The Irish Times (2008-11-29). Retrieved on 30 November 2008.
- ^ a b c d "Nigerian army takes over riot city", AFP (2008-11-29). Retrieved on 30 November 2008.
- ^ "300 bodies taken to mosque on 2nd day of Nigeria riots", CNN (2008-11-29). Retrieved on 30 November 2008.
- ^ a b "At least 200 killed in clashes in Nigeria", Reuters (2008-11-29). Retrieved on 30 November 2008.
- ^ "Nigerian president tours riot city", BBC (2001-10-17). Retrieved on 30 November 2008.
[edit] External links
| Wikinews has related news: Riots in Nigeria kill nearly 400 |
- Blench, R. M., Daniel, P. & Hassan, Umaru (2003): Access rights and conflict over common pool resources in three states in Nigeria. Report to Conflict Resolution Unit, World Bank (extracted section on Jos Plateau)
- Nkwocha, Stanley (2008-12-01). Jos: Blood On Its Streets, Again, Leadership (Abuja)
- Telegraph.co.uk coverage of the riots
