FT.com
 
. All times are London time.
 

Home
World
US
UK
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Middle East & Africa
Americas
International economy
Brussels briefing
News headlines
News in depth
Business
Markets
Markets & funds data
Industries
Lex
Comment & analysis
Technology
Management
Your money
Arts & Weekend
Sport
Jobs & classifieds
In today's FT
FT Reports
Creative Business
FTfm
FT-IT
World reports
Business reports


News in depth
   Rebuilding Iraq
 Combating Sars
 US elections 2004
 Global security
 Science briefing
 Arab-Israel conflict

Columnists
   Martin Wolf
 Lucy Kellaway
 Philip Stephens
 Quentin Peel
 Lombard
 Gerard Baker
 Amity Shlaes

World / Middle East & Africa Print article | Email
Hundreds feared dead in Nigerian fighting
By Michael Peel in Yelwa
Published: May 7 2004 5:00 | Last Updated: May 7 2004 5:00

Hundreds of people are dead or missing in a troubled central Nigerian state after mostly Christian fighters from several ethnic groups attacked their Muslim neighbours, according to witnesses. Hausa Muslims in the town of Yelwa in Plateau state claimed the authorities failed to protect them and said members of the security forces had provided help for this week's deadly assault.

The attacks appear to be an escalation of a tit-for-tat conflict that is one of the bloodiest examples of the complex political, social and economic tensions undermining Nigeria's nascent system of civilian rule.

"This is total ethno-religious killing and the state government is fully aware of what has happened," said Abdullahi Abdullahi, a community leader.

State authorities estimate 67 dead but local people said the true figure was much higher.

Mr Abdullahi said 650 people had died, although it was unclear whether that number included those who were missing. Lawal Waziri, a teacher, put the death toll at 550, adding that 250 were buried on Tuesday.

Mohammed Zaki, a transport worker, said the attackers went from house to house asking women to leave before killing men and all but the youngest boys.

Mr Abdullahi said security forces had left Yelwa before the attackers from the Tarok ethnic group and other peoples surrounded the town using weapons such as pistols and Kalashnikov rifles, some of which must have been obtained from the security forces.

Other local people said the attackers set light to three mosques and burned houses, adding that some of the assailants wore police and military uniforms. One man said he had seen paramilitary mobile police identity badges left behind by some of the attackers, although he did not have the evidence with him.

The outskirts of Yelwa, which is four hours' drive from Abuja, the capital, were filled with charred buildings and wrecked cars.

A truck containing members of Nigeria's paramilitary mobile police was parked almost opposite the Muktar Oil filling station, where petrol pumps had been ripped out and burned. One of the destroyed buildings belongs to the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, a reminder of an attack on a Yelwa church in February in which 48 Christians were killed.

Local people said a main cause of the conflict was a dispute over ownership of the area's fertile farmland. The killings appear to be the latest in a series of reprisal attacks by Muslims and Christians in Plateau, a religiously mixed state with a Christian majority.

More than 1,000 people were killed in sectarian riots in Jos, the Plateau state capital, in September 2001.

Sunday Ehindero, deputy inspector-general of police, denied members of the security forces had been involved in the attacks and said he had no evidence that troops or police had withdrawn before the assault. He said the police had taken attackers into custody, but declined to give details.

Mr Ehindero said he doubted claims by some local people that the attackers had numbered 3,000 and had kidnapped community members. "In a situation like that some people run helter-skelter and some people may be missing," he said.

Umar Abdu Mairga, head of the Nigerian Red Cross team visiting Yelwa yesterday, said at least 500 people were believed killed.

email this EMAIL THIS print this PRINT THIS most popular MOST POPULAR  
Related stories
Hundreds missing in Nigerian sectarian clashes  May 06 2004 17:41
Oil giants caught in violent tribal clashes  May 05 2004 17:42 Requires subscription
Oil giants face uncertain future as tribal clashes over land grow more violent in Niger Delta  May 05 2004 05:00 Requires subscription
SOLDIERS BEAT BACK FIGHTERS IN PLATEAU STATE AFTER AT LEAST 67 DIE Troops and paramilitary police have beaten back fighters who  May 05 2004 05:00 Requires subscription
Nigeria cracks down on protest march  May 04 2004 05:00 Requires subscription
Kenyan corruption probers move to freeze assets  Apr 28 2004 22:27 Requires subscription
Chevron staff pulled out of Niger Delta after fatal raid  Apr 27 2004 05:00 Requires subscription
Nigeria offers cash reward over killings  Apr 26 2004 05:00 Requires subscription
Nigeria shaken by flawed elections  Apr 26 2004 05:00 Requires subscription
Nigeria steps up hunt for killers of oil workers  Apr 25 2004 19:01 Requires subscription
Requires subscription = requires subscription to FT.com
Search & quotes

NewsQuotes
  • Power searchRequires subscription
  • My portfolio

  • Email & tools
       News alerts
     News summaries
     Personal office
     Download news ticker
     Currency converter

    Research tools
       Analyst reports
     FT Research Centre
     Free annual reports
     Market research
     Growth companies
     D&B business reports

      Home World | Business | Markets news | Markets & funds data | Industries | Lex | Your money | Comment & analysis | Reports | Arts & Weekend | Sport | Jobs & classifieds | In today's FT | Media inquiries | Site services Contact us | Help