Release International

Hundreds of Christians in Bauchi city in central Nigeria are now homeless and a curfew is in place after a wave of violence swept the state capital.

At least 11 people were killed during a weekend of rioting in Bauchi in which 14 churches, eight vicarages and several Christian homes were destroyed, according to religious rights charity Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW).

Violence broke out on Saturday, February 21, after a mosque was set alight in Bauchi's Railway suburb. Troops were quickly deployed to restore order and a dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed across seven neighbourhoods. But attacks on the Christian community continued, says CSW. At least one person was killed on Monday, February 23.

About 4,500 people were forced to flee their homes and seek refuge at two army barracks in the city, police told news agency BosNewsLife. Release has sent funds to its Nigerian partner, the Stefanos Foundation, to help provide toilet facilities, food, clothes and bedding for 200 of the people worst affected by the riots.

Some sources have linked the Bauchi riots to a local dispute between a church in Railway suburb and Muslims attending a nearby mosque – a row apparently triggered by the Christians' decision not to let Muslims park on church land.

But several reports also link the Bauchi riots to events in Jos in the neighbouring central Nigerian state of Plateau last November. Hundreds of people were killed when intercommunal unrest broke out after local elections; about 300 Muslims were reportedly shot dead by security forces during a night-time curfew (7x7, December 9, 2008).

Release sources say the fire at the Railway suburb mosque in Bauchi is now believed to have been started by militants keen to stir up unrest and avenge Muslim deaths in Jos last year. Two churches in Bauchi had been burnt down in the fortnight leading up to the riots.

(Sources: BBC, BosNewsLife, Christian Solidarity Worldwide)

Pray for a return to peace and calm in Bauchi city after recent rioting.

Pray for the Stefanos Foundation as it distributes relief and promotes peace.

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