May 25, 2004

Violence continues to flare up between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria.

Police say more than 350 people were killed earlier this month and more than 250 women and children are still unaccounted for in the wake of religious violence in the central Nigerian state of Plateau.

Land disputes between members of a Christian tribe and Muslim farmers are reportedly at the heart of the bloody conflict. Religious violence between Nigeria's mostly Muslim northern region and its Christian south has claimed an estimated ten thousand lives since 1999.

Jerry Dykstra of Open Doors USA (opendoorsusa.org), says the situation in Nigeria remains volatile, especially for Christians. "It's sort of breaking out in different areas -- Northern Nigeria and, of course, in central Nigeria, in different states," he says.

The conflict is primarily a result of the Islamic forces' struggle for dominance, Dykstra says, noting, "Muslims would love to have Nigeria become a Muslim state, and in 12 of the states, there is already Sharia law, or strict Muslim law, in effect."

The Open Doors spokesman says Nigeria's Christian Association has denied involvement in the bloodshed. However, he notes that the hostility is by no means one-sided.

"For years and years, of course, Muslims have been persecuting Christians there," Dykstra says, "and it's been hard for Christians in some of these villages to hold back from retaliating against the Muslims. So just suffice it to say there's a lot of hatred, maybe on both sides."

Open Doors is calling upon Christians in other nations to pray for believers in Nigeria who are being affected by the religious strife and violence there.

© 2004 Agape Press. All rights reserved. Used with permission.