The article below reports that violence erupted when Christians protested the building of a mosque in a predominantly Christian district. What it does not report is the history of persecution of Christians in that city. And while it mentions a “disputed election,” it does not report the fact that the prior wave of violence was sparked in part by rumors that a Christian party defeated a Muslim one in a local election. Add to that the massacre of 8 Christian pastors in 2004, and a pattern begins to emerge. “Deadly clashes rock Nigerian city,” from Al Jazeera, January 18:
Authorities in the northern Nigerian city of Jos have imposed a dusk to dawn curfew after sectarian clashes that left at least 10 people dead.
The violence broke out on Sunday morning between rival Christian and Muslim gangs, setting fire to mosques, churches and other buildings.
In November 2008 a wave of sectarian clashes in Jos left hundreds of people dead following a disputed election.
Sunday’s clashes reportedly erupted after Christian youths protested against the building of a mosque in the Christian-dominated Nassarawa Gwom district of the city.
Doctors said several people had been brought to city hospitals with gun shot wounds or deep cuts from machetes.
Witnesses reported large clouds of smoke coming from burning buildings and vehicles in Nassarawa Gwom.
Mohammed Lerema, a state police spokesman, said the situation had been brought under control by late on Sunday.
“We have arrested 35 suspects, including five in military uniforms,” he said.
However state officials said they had requested extra security reinforcements be sent to Jos from other parts of Nigeria.