A NE Nigerian state where there have been numerous attacks on Christians has been put under curfew amid a new wave of violence blamed on Islamists

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Nigerian violence sparks curfew

Anger ... a fuel subsidy protest turns nasty in Lagos. Photo: AP

PARIS: A north-eastern Nigerian state where there have been numerous attacks on Christians has been put under curfew amid a new wave of violence blamed on Islamists.

The President, Goodluck Jonathan, a week ago placed parts of north-east Nigeria under emergency rule in a bid to curb escalating violence after 49 people were killed on Christmas Day, most of them at a Catholic church.

The move has not stopped more attacks, with the Islamist sect Boko Haram targeting more Christians and a regional police headquarters, heightening fears of of widespread religious violence in Africa's most populous nation.

More than 30 Christians were gunned down in three separate attacks attributed to Boko Haram in Adamawa state and neighbouring Gombe, which are not part of the region where the emergency rule is in force.

Eleven worshippers were killed on Friday evening at a church in Adamawa's capital Yola, and 17 other Christians were shot dead in Mubi town.

On Thursday evening, gunmen stormed a church in Gombe and opened fire as worshippers prayed, killing six people including the pastor's wife.

The attacks followed an ultimatum last week by the Islamists ordering Christians to leave the mainly Muslim north for the predominantly Christian south.

In Potiskum, further north in Yobe state, hundreds of residents fled their homes on Saturday after all-night gun battles between Islamists and security forces. A policeman and a civilian were killed when the gunmen robbed three banks, residents said.

Mr Jonathan has also promised politicians will take a 25 per cent pay cut amid union plans for a nationwide strike to protest against the scrapping of fuel subsidies that more than doubled petrol prices.

Unions have threatened to shut ports, fuel stations, banks and oil operations in Africa's largest crude producer if the government fails to restore the subsidies. Mr Jonathan abolished $US7.4 billion of subsidies on January 1, promising to use the savings to boost investment in power plants and roads.

Nigeria imports more than 70 per cent of its fuel because of a lack of refining capacity.

http://www.smh.com.a...0108-1pq5i.html

Edited January 8, 2012 by ☠

[Darnell 8,479]

Doesn't China get the biggest percentage of Nigerian Crude?

and

That Islam sect is gonna make a 'Muslim-only' north Nigeria in the next few months.

Geez!