Vatican: massacre not religious

2010-03-08 21:29

The bodies of victims of the massacre in the street of the town of Dogo Nahawa, Nigeria. (AP Photo)

Rome - The Vatican says that economic and social reasons, not religious hatred, are behind violence in Nigeria that has killed more than 200 people.

The violence on Sunday took place in three mostly Christian villages.

Vatican spokesperson Federico Lombardi condemned the violence and said on Monday that the conflict must be interpreted in the light of social, economic, ethnic and cultural factors rather than religious hatred.

Lombardi cited an interview by Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria, in which he said the clashes resulted from conflict between Muslim shepherds and Christian farmers. The archbishop told Vatican Radio that the killings weren't due to religion.

- AP