Curfew imposed in NW Nigeria state following violence

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - Government has slammed a 24-hour curfew in Nigeria's northwest following what locals called a violence between Muslim and Christian youths late Thursday.

“The Kaduna State Government has imposed a 24-hour curfew in Kasuwan Magani village. The imposition of the curfew is with immediate effect,” Samuel Aruwan, spokesman to the government, said in a statement.

Aruwan didn’t give further details.

However, locals said the violence broke out when a Muslim mob allegedly beat up a Christian youth on suspicion of stealing from a Muslim shop. Later, friends of the suspect, mostly Christians, staged a reprisal on the Muslim youth.

“As of last night, more than a dozen houses have been burnt while four people were killed,” Busu Aikhomu, a resident in the area, told Anadolu Agency.

Like Plateau in central Nigeria, Kaduna has mixed religious communities and any disagreement often assumes religious coloration because of the tension -- often political -- within the communities.

Police have not commented on the development in Kasuwan Magani.