DATE=2/22/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=NIGERIA VIOLENCE (L)
NUMBER=2-259440
BYLINE=JOHN PITMAN
DATELINE=ABIDJAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: In northern Nigeria, an indefinite curfew has
been imposed on the city of Kaduna after violent
rioting claimed dozens of lives. V-O-A West Africa
Correspondent John Pitman reports the violence began
on Monday following a demonstration by Christians
worried about the possible introduction of Islamic
law, or Sharia, in Kaduna State.
TEXT: Kaduna's deputy governor announced the
indefinite curfew at noon on Tuesday, after police
reported continuing violence in Kaduna despite a dusk-
to-dawn curfew Monday night.
Witnesses and police in Kaduna say the death toll from
street battles between gangs of young Christians and
Muslims is in the dozens, and may continue to climb as
more bodies are collected.
Eyewitnesses say bodies could be seen on the streets
of Kaduna on Tuesday, and that smoke continued to rise
from burning cars and buildings.
Leila Dogon-Yaro is a women's rights activist who
lives in Kaduna. Reached by telephone at her home on
Tuesday, she described what she had seen and heard.
/// FIRST DOGON-YARO ACT ///
Since the disturbance started, I have not gone
out of my house. But I can hear a lot of
shooting in the area where I live, a lot of
shooting, a lot of screaming, a lot of whistle-
blowing. And I can see smoke from my house.
And, you know, I have had several phone calls
from friends saying the same situation (is)
happening in their areas.
/// END ACT ///
Extra police and army units have been deployed to
Kaduna to enforce the curfew, and some reports say
soldiers could be seen shooting at rioters as the
violence intensified Monday night and Tuesday.
/// OPT /// Many civilians, like Mrs. Dogon-Yaro,
have been forced to stay inside their homes during the
violence, unable to collect food or water. Others
have taken shelter in police and army barracks, where
supplies also are running low. /// END OPT ///
The violence in Kaduna began Monday as thousands of
Christians marched toward the governor's office to
deliver a letter voicing their concerns about the
possible introduction of Islamic law, or Sharia, in
Kaduna State.
Witnesses say the protest broke down when gangs of
young men started fighting each other and burning cars
and shops. However, while the march was a religious
exercise, it remains unclear if the violence was
motivated by religion.
Nigerian government officials have tried to down play
the religious angle, and have suggested the violence
was an outgrowth of political rivalries or economic
hardship.
Some, like Leila Dogon-Yaro, the activist in Kaduna,
agree with this assessment.
/// SECOND DOGON-YARO ACT ///
It was a peaceful protest. What happened after
that, one has to blame it on people who are not
working, people who are restless, people that,
really, don't have anything to fall back on.
/// OPT /// So, actually, you see, the
Christians and the Muslims I think are living in
harmony. But the problem is that when there is
a demonstration or when there is a peaceful
protest, those people who don't have anything
doing, that are jobless, that are hungry, they
seize the opportunity so they can steal, so they
can destroy. /// END OPT ///
/// END ACT ///
The controversy over Islamic law in Nigeria stems from
one state's decision to apply the Islamic code within
its borders. In January, Zamphara state became the
first Nigerian state to apply Sharia's strict rules
and punishments.
Zamphara state's mostly Muslim population has, for the
most part, welcomed the new code, applauding its harsh
penalties for drinking, smoking, prostitution, and
other behavior considered inappropriate.
/// OPT ///
Under Sharia, women and men have also been segregated
in public places in Zamphara, and corporal punishment
-- including beheading, amputation and whipping --
have been added to the penal code.
Zamphara's decision to apply Islamic law has been
welcomed by many Muslims in northern Nigeria, where
Islam is the predominant religion. At least three
other states have begun considering following
Zamphara's example.
/// END OPT ///
But in states like Kaduna, where the religious mix is
more diverse and where Muslims do not have a distinct
majority, the debate over Sharia has raised alarm
among Christians who make up close to 40-percent of
the state's population.
Earlier this month, Kaduna's Muslim community
demonstrated in favor of Sharia, which advocates say
would apply only to Muslims.
Monday's march by Christian churches was organized to
express the churches' concerns that introducing even
limited Sharia in Kaduna could lead to religious
tension, or violate Christians' civil or religious
rights. (Signed)
NEB/JP/JWH/LTD/gm/africa
22-Feb-2000 12:27 PM EDT (22-Feb-2000 1727 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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