Nigeria: February 24, 2000

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The northern Moslem city of Kaduna was blanketed by police and troops to stop the religious violence that has so far left nearly 200 people dead and many more injured. Property damage is extensive. The unrest has gone on for most of the week. Unlike the rest of the province, which is mostly Moslem, nearly half the population of Kaduna is Christian, and many of those Christians are from southern ethnic groups. Religion and tribal affiliation are both volatile issues in Nigeria. The violence in Kaduna was started by the provincial governments attempt to impose Moslem religious law.