Central Nigeria clashes lead to 'scores of deaths'

According to an article by the BBC News, Nigeria has witnessed another gruesome ethnic clash in the city of Jos. Similar to the attack in January, the religious conflict purportedly left "scores of people" dead in its wake, and countless more maimed. The religious clash began early on Sunday morning when gangs of men descended on the town, firing sporadically as they went. The shooting was merely an effort by the gangs to force residents into the streets, where they were viciously hacked by machetes. An anonymous government official estimated at least 100 had been killed-- the majority women and children. Additionally, witnesses of the brutal ethnic confrontation said corpses were piled in mounds in the village of Dogo-Nahawa, which is a few miles away from Jos. A doctor at a local clinic in Jos stated most of the people seeking treatment from the attack suffered from burns and machete cuts.

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan placed all of the security forces in the vicinity of Jos on full alert, revealing his fear that this attack might lead to a conflict with "cross-border dimensions". President Jonathan has also issued the deployment of troops to Jos in a concerted effort to regain a sense of order. Additionally, he "ordered those behind the violence to be found."

This most recent display of religious violence in Jos blatantly reveals the widespread cleavages in Nigeria. The north-south divide of Christianity and Islam has resulted in repeated outbreaks of bloodshed, causing the deaths of thousands. Nigerians are obviously more heavily tied to their religious affiliation than their state, causing unbridled violence against people who are identical to them in every way other than religion. The Jos clash also deals with the political institutions of the state. President Jonathan's legitimacy might increase if his attempt to confront the people responsible for the attack is successful, as it gives Nigerians a greater sense of trust in their leader. This article also touches on the fragmentation of Nigerian society, as each region seems to have certain ethnic or religious ties which damages the effectiveness and stability of the country.

Photo Credit: BBC News

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