Breaking: Scores killed as Muslims, Christians Clash Northern Nigeria
Several people were feared killed while scores of others were injured when Muslims and Christians clashed yesterday at Kasuwan Magani community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The state government yesterday evening imposed a 24-hour curfew on Kasuwan Magani community. The clash was said to have started about 6p.m. A resident told our correspondent on the phone that a number of people were killed while houses were set ablaze. A similar fracas, which occurred in the same Kasuwan Magani in February between Christians and Muslims, led to the killing of 15 people while property and other valuables worth millions of naira were destroyed.
The February violence was over an alleged abduction and conversion of some Christian girls by Muslims in the community. However, a native of the community, who did not want his name mentioned, said the latest crisis started when a young man was caught stealing in the market and was being beaten when some youths belonging to the same religious faith with the suspected thief rose in his defence. The allegedly attacked those beating the suspected thief. He said: “The whole thing turned to a religious fight between Muslims and Christians.
They started using dangerous weapons to attack each other and setting houses belonging to each side ablaze. “A number of people were also killed. Security personnel have been deployed and the situation is under control.” Our correspondent could not immediately ascertain the number of people who lost their lives. Samuel Aruwan, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Nasir el-Rufai said in a statement that the 24-hour curfew was to curtail breakdown of law and order and it was with immediate effect.
He said: “The Kaduna State government has imposed a 24- hour curfew on the Kasuwan Magani community. Security forces have been deployed to contain an outbreak of violence in the community which is located in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state. “The 24-hour curfew takes immediate effect from today, 18th October 2018.”
