11 killed in religious clashes in Nigeria

Abuja: At least 11 people were killed in Nigerias restive central city of Jos in religious clashes, according to eyewitnesses.

Eight members of a family were killed overnight on Saturday while assailants killed three people today.

Emmanuel Dipo, the Police Commissioner for Plateau state, confirmed the incident which seems to be a continuation of an earlier clashes on Thursday that led to the death of 42 people.

During the violence, inhabitants of the city said 22 Muslims and 20 Christians were among those killed.

They alleged that soldiers, who were deployed to control the volatile situation, did most of the killings by shooting into the rampaging crowd.

More than 40 vehicles and 100 motorcycles were also burnt during the fight which saw the army intervening to help the Muslims escape from the area mostly inhabited by Christians.

Early last month, 10 people were killed in overnight attacks in Jos, sparking protest as angry youths took to the roads.

Several people have died in internecine sectarian clashes involving ethnic Fulanis and Beroms in Jos and its surrounding areas. Majority of the Fulanis are Muslims while the Beroms are mostly Christians.

Nigeria, an oil-rich country of 150 million people, is split between Muslims in the north and the predominantly Christian south.

Plateau state is in the "middle belt," where dozens of ethnic groups vie for control of fertile lands and political and economic power.