Violence Simmers down in Jos as Troops Deployed on Streets to Keep Control

After four days of violence between Christians and Muslims, intermittent violence continues around the central Nigerian city of Jos, reported Al Jazeera.

According to a mosque official, over 150 citizens have died in clashes, with streets being left deserted and business closed, said report.

Government, however, put death toll to 20, stating that 40 others were injured while leaders of both sides said that around 300 people died, report said.

A day-long curfew was in place in Jos on Wednesday but gunfire could be heard in neighbouring areas in Plateau state.

“The fighting has stopped in Jos, but we can hear gunshots in other communities in the outskirts of the city,” Muhammad Tanko Shittu, a senior mosque official organising mass burials, was quoted as saying.

“We are expecting more corpses to be brought in from surrounding communities later today,” Shittu added.

The international rights watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called for restraint from the Nigerian military as additional troops were stationed on the streets of the city to keep control, said report.

“Nigeria should ensure that its security forces use restraint and comply with international standards on the use of force in responding to the latest deadly outbreak of inter-communal violence,” HRW was quoted as saying.

Charles Dokubo, from the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, was quoted as saying: “There is more than the religious aspect of it. There are two communities – one that call themselves settlers and one that call themselves indigenous communities.

“The crisis in the north started with the creation a local government.”