Deadly clashes erupt in Nigeria

2008-11-28 21:11

Kano - Deadly clashes erupted on Friday in a Nigerian city after a local election dispute, a lawmaker said.

The fighting broke out early on Friday in the city of Jos after a vote for local officials that took place on Thursday, said Emmanuel Danboyi of the Plateau State legislature.

He said at least one person had died in the violence, which was sparked by false rumours of one party's victory.

Some houses of worship were also destroyed in the central Nigerian city where both Muslims and Christians live, Danboyi said by telephone from Jos.

Troops were deployed in the city streets and restored order, he said. Police officials were not immediately available for comment.

The US Embassy warned its citizens against travelling to Jos, and ordered staff to avoid the city.

Political strife over local issues is common in this restive West African nation, where government offices control massive budgets stemming from the country's oil industry.

But past violence has spread across Nigeria from Jos and other central areas, where Muslim herdsmen mix daily with Christian farmers, causing friction over land rights and religious creeds.

Those divides mirror Nigeria's larger society, and crises in what's known as Nigeria's middle belt can spread into cities across both the Muslim north and Christian south.

Normally, people from across Nigeria mix freely and peacefully in large cities across the country of 140 million people.

- AP