Religion not Single Cause of Nigeria Violence
Heather Murdock
May 24, 2012
About 4,000 Nigerians have been killed by violence during the past 11 years in Plateau State, according to Human Rights Watch. Locals say the conflict may be along ethnic and religious lines, but the root of the fighting is often political and economic.
Nigeria is often described as predominantly Muslim in the North and mostly Christian in the South. In between, there is the "Middle Belt," an area that during the past 11 years has seen enough massacres, bombings and assassinations to make locals wonder if there will ever again be peace.
Religious, economic divide
Violence in the “Middle Belt” is often described as a “religious crisis” between Muslims and Christians, who also differ ethnically and in legal and economic status.
Human Rights Watch says Jos, the capital of Plateau State and a hotbed of sectarian violence, has been quieted by government security forces in the past year, but violence continues in the countryside.
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