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Abdulkadir Orire, secretary-general of Jama'atu Nasril Islam (JNI), an Islamic umbrella body that unites all Muslim organizations in the country, said that the frequent occurrence of ethno-religious riots in Nigeria resulted from the economic marginalization of the majority of the country's population. He stressed that Islam did not support these acts of violence.

Bola Tinubu, a Muslim who is governor of the state of Lagos in south-western Nigeria, said that Muslim leaders in Nigeria should "go out to all mosques and communities to preach peace. Allah didn't ask us to kill anybody. He didn't ask us to revenge.

"One religion must not extinguish the other. Islam must not extinguish Christianity and Christianity must equally not extinguish Islam."

Copyright © 2001 ENI.

Nigerian Democracy Wobbles, Army's Profile Rises — Reuters (Oct. 29, 2001)

Rampant soldiers kill civilians — South African Press Association (Oct. 24, 2001)

Appraising the Ethos Behind Kano Riots — Daily Trust, Abuja (Oct. 24, 2001)

Exercise Restraint, Na'abba Urges Kano Indigenes — This Day, Lagos (Oct. 25, 2001)

Obasanjo Caused Kano Riots, Says Ex-Governor Rimi — This Day, Lagos (Oct. 19, 2001)

Red Cross helps Kano riot victims — Business Day (Oct. 19, 2001)

Assembly of Muslims Blames Ignorance — Daily Trust, Abuja (Oct. 18, 2001)

Nigerian Police: 32 Died in Clashes — Associated Press (Oct. 17, 2001)

Nigerian leader visits riot site — Reuters (Oct. 17, 2001)

Nigerian Leader Warns About Violence — Associated Press (Oct. 17, 2001)

Violent Clashes That Threaten Democracy Under Obasanjo — Vanguard, Lagos (Oct. 16, 2001)

Over 100 dead in riots — South African Press Association (Oct. 16, 2001)

Washington Unruffled by anti-US Protest in Nigeria — AllAfrica.com (Oct. 16, 2001)

200 May Be Dead in Nigeria Riots — The Washington Post (Oct. 14, 2001)

Nigerian City Shell-Shocked After Anti-U.S. Riots — The Washington Post (Oct. 14, 2001)

Christians, Muslims Riot In Northern Nigeria — Associated Press (Oct. 13, 2001)

For more articles, see Yahoo's full coverage on Nigeria and AllAfrica.com.

See Christianity Today's previous coverage of the riots in Jos.

Previous Christianity Today coverage of religious tensions in Nigeria includes:

Orphaned and Widowed | Christian families devastated since Shari'ah law adopted. (August 29, 2001)

Christians and Muslims at Odds Over Nigerian Constitution | Calls made to limit Shari'ah law in Northern states. (July 12, 2001)

Nigeria Officials Press Northern Governors to Scale Back Islamic Law | Churches harassed by Islamic youths purporting to enforce the law. (June 14, 2001)

Five Anglicans in Court After Rescuing Teenagers From Arranged Marriages | Priests claim Christian sisters are being forced into Islam. (June 5, 2001)

The Shari'ah Threat | Muslim Fundamentalist law troubles Christians and some Muslims. (Feb. 2, 2001)

'Focused, Determined, Deliberate' Destruction | Ecumenical leader calls on Nigeria to deal with religious violence between Muslims and Christians. (Oct. 30, 2000)

Nigerian Muslims and Christians Form a Religious Council | Gombe, a north Nigerian state, creates a council of faiths to deal with fears over Islamic law. (Sept. 19, 2000)

Churches Challenge Islamic Law | Christians plan to take Shari'ah to court. (Aug. 15, 2000)

Is Nigeria Moving Toward War? | Deadly riots lead to suspension of Islamic law. (March 31, 2000)

Nigeria On the Brink of Religious War | Northern states adopt Islamic law, increasing Christian-Muslim tensions. (Dec. 16, 1999)

Nigeria's Churches Considering Legal Challenge to Islamic Laws | Third state moving toward implementing Koranic laws (Dec. 17, 1999)

Can Christianity and Islam Coexist and Prosper in Africa? Twice in a decade religious fighting killed hundreds in West Africa's oldest city. (Oct. 25, 1999)

Nigeria's Christian President Calls for 'Moral Rearmament' Constitution rewritten to pledge freedom of belief is absolute. (April 26, 1999)

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October (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45