DATE=7/19/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251924
TITLE=NIGERIA / VIOLENCE (L)
BYLINE=JOHN PITMAN
DATELINE=ABIDJAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AT LEAST 60 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN SOUTHWESTERN
NIGERIA DURING A CLASH BETWEEN RIVAL ETHNIC GROUPS NEAR THE
COUNTRY'S COMMERCIAL CAPITAL, LAGOS. CORRESPONDENT JOHN PITMAN
REPORTS FROM OUR WEST-AFRICA BUREAU.
TEXT: VIOLENCE ERUPTED SATURDAY IN THE TOWN OF SHAGUMU, ABOUT
70-KILOMETERS NORTHEAST OF LAGOS, WHERE ETHNIC TENSION HAD
APPARENTLY BEEN BREWING FOR DAYS BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE HAUSA AND
YORUBA ETHNIC GROUPS.
WITNESSES SAY THE VIOLENCE WAS SPARKED BY THE DEATH OF A HAUSA
WOMAN LAST WEEK. ACCORDING TO REPORTS FROM THE TOWN, THE WOMAN
WAS KILLED AFTER WATCHING A TRADITIONAL YORUBA PARADE WHICH
NON-YORUBAS WERE ASKED NOT TO WATCH.
THE PARADES ARE AN ANNUAL EVENT ON THE YORUBA RELIGIOUS CALENDAR,
AND ARE HELD AT NIGHT. IT IS UNCLEAR IF THE WOMAN VIOLATED THE
REQUEST NOT TO VIEW THE PARADE ON PURPOSE, OR SIMPLY STUMBLED ON
THE MARCHERS INADVERTENTLY.
RIOT POLICE WERE SENT TO THE TOWN (MONDAY) ONE DAY AFTER THE
WORST CONFRONTATIONS SUNDAY.
EYEWITNESSES SAY MANY OF THE VICTIMS WERE BURNED TO DEATH.
OTHERS WERE KILLED WITH MACHETES. SOME WERE REPORTEDLY ATTACKED
INSIDE THEIR OWN HOMES.
/// OPT /// JOURNALISTS IN SHAGAMU TELL OF A TERRIBLE, ACRID
SMELL WHICH HANGS OVER THE TOWN -- A MIXTURE OF BURNED AUTOMOBILE
TIRES AND HUMAN FLESH. /// END OPT ///
THE DEAD REPORTEDLY COME FROM BOTH ETHNIC GROUPS, AND OFFICIALS
IN THE TOWN SAY THE DEATH TOLL COULD GO HIGHER AS MORE BODIES ARE
DISCOVERED AND BROUGHT FOR BURIAL.
FOLLOWING THE VIOLENCE, HUNDREDS OF HAUSA RESIDENTS REPORTEDLY
BEGAN FLEEING THE TOWN. NEWS REPORTS SAY ANTI-HAUSA SENTIMENT IS
RUNNING HIGH AMONG THE TOWN'S YORUBA POPULATION.
/// REST OPT ///
THE YORUBA ETHNIC GROUP IS THE LARGEST IN NIGERIA'S SOUTHWESTERN
REGION. THE HAUSA FORM THE MAJORITY POPULATION IN NORTHERN
NIGERIA, BUT DURING THE PAST 100-YEARS HAVE SETTLED EXTENSIVELY
IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
TENSION BETWEEN THE HAUSA AND YORUBA IS COMMON IN THE SOUTHWEST
AND CAME TO A HEAD FREQUENTLY UNDER THE FORMER MILITARY
GOVERNMENTS -- WHICH WERE DOMINATED BY HAUSA OFFICERS.
THE HAUSA -- WHO ARE TRADITIONALLY SHEPHERDS -- ARE ALSO
REGULARLY INVOLVED IN CLASHES WITH RIVALS IN NORTHERN NIGERIA
OVER CATTLE GRAZING RIGHTS.
NIGERIA'S NEW CIVILIAN PRESIDENT, OLUSEGUN OBASANJO, IS A YORUBA,
BUT HE REJECTS ETHNIC LABELS AND HAS CAMPAIGNED HARD FOR
NIGERIANS TO PLACE LESS EMPHASIS ON THEIR ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS.
SINCE TAKING OFFICE MAY 29TH, PRESIDENT OBASANJO HAS WORKED TO
ADDRESS NIGERIA'S ETHNIC TROUBLES, WHICH AFFECT A LARGE NUMBER OF
THE COUNTRY'S ESTIMATED 200 ETHNIC GROUPS. (SIGNED)
NEB/JP/PCF/RAE
19-Jul-99 2:06 PM EDT (1806 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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