NIGERIA: Renewed Christian-Muslim clashes claim lives

LAGOS, 29 August (IRIN) - Renewed fighting between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria's northern Bauchi State over plans by the government to introduce strict Islamic law has claimed several lives, witnesses said on Wednesday.

The latest outbreak of violence in the Tafawa Balewa local government council involves two communities, the mainly Christian Kutaru and the predominantly Muslim Zwall. "Fighting broke out last week and no fewer than 15 people have been killed while many more have been injured," Musa Kaltung, a bus driver who travelled through the area en route to Lagos, told IRIN.

The new violence comes hot on the heels of another conflict in Tafawa Balewa.

Nigerian Red Cross officials said fighting between Christian Jarawas and Sayawas and Hausa-Fulani Muslims in June and July left more than 400 people dead and more than 22,000 displaced. The tense situation was just being brought under control when the latest clashes erupted, they said.

The fighting is reported to have persisted for more than one week despite the deployment of anti-riot police to the area. Humanitarian workers said full details of casualties and displaced people were not easily available because the area was still unsafe.

"The situation is really very tense and our people have not been able to get access to the affected area," Patrick Bawa, spokesman of the Nigerian Red Cross, told IRIN. "Until there's some form of normalcy and they enter the area we can't tell much about casualties."

The Hausa-Fulani have shared the Tafawa Balewa area with the Jarawas and Sayawas for centuries. However, relations have been tense for several decades because the more numerous Sayawas, who are indigenous to the area, resent having a Hausa-Fulani emir as an overlord. The emir also appoints community chiefs.

Clashes were recorded in 1942, 1973, 1991 and 1995, linked to either local chieftaincy or religious differences. This year's clashes were occurred when the state government appointed Sharia judges for the area.