Religious violence toll at 127

2006-02-25 17:41

Lagos - Sectarian violence spread to three more Nigerian cities on Friday, claiming seven lives and raising the death toll in days of killings to 127.

Rival religious and ethnic groups skirmished in the cities of Potiskum in the north eastern Yobe state, Kontagora in northern Niger state and Enugu, capital of the south eastern Enugu state.

Potiskum resident Ibrahim Dagbugur said Muslim youths, armed with machetes and clubs, attacked shops belonging to Christians and burnt five churches in the town. Four people were killed.

Riot police battled for hours before they could bring the violence under control.

The violence follows protests over the European publication of controversial cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad.

The violence in Kontagora left two people dead and 10 churches burnt.

In the mainly Christian south eastern city of Enugu, one person was killed.

Of the 127 people killed this week in Muslim-Christian fighting across the country, 80 died in the south eastern city of Onitsha.

- AP