ABUJA, Nigeria (September 9, 2001 9:24 a.m. EDT) - Authorities sealed off a northern Nigerian state hit by Muslim-Christian violence, and warned communities across the state Sunday to watch out for more outbreaks.
Residents of the 4 million-resident city of Jos, contacted by telephone, said the killing was continuing for a third day, despite deployment of the army Saturday.
Rival Christian and Muslim gangs were playing cat-and-mouse with police and troops, singling out targets of opposing faiths and killing them when security forces were not around, residents said.
The violence appeared to have abated from its peak Friday and Saturday, when witnesses said gangs were battling in the streets with guns, machetes and clubs.
With residents still fearing to venture outside, only two churches held Sunday services, after two other churches were burned. Muslims tried to attack one Sunday service, but were stopped by police, residents said.
Clashes were reported on the city's outskirts as well, and at least two killings were reported elsewhere in Jos state.
After initially describing the situation as calm Sunday morning after a 4 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, officials at midday were refusing comment on the violence.
State police commissioner Mohammed Abubakar confirmed that unrest continued Sunday, but refused to discuss the fighting or possible death toll. The police's priority now was securing lives and property, Abubakar said.
The violence in Jos broke out Friday night at the time of Muslim prayers. Some residents said it started when a Christian woman tried to cross a street where Muslim men had gathered to pray.
The violence was the latest since the introduction of Sharia, or Islamic law, in several northern states last year in Africa's most populous nation sparked bloody clashes between Christians and Muslims. Hundreds died in those clashes.
The local government in Jos is made up primarily of Christians, and there is a heavy American missionary presence in the area. The local government has rejected the possibility of implementing Sharia.
Until now, the city, 125 miles from the capital, Abuja, had largely been spared religious and ethnic violence that has periodically wracked other parts of Nigeria.
Religious tensions in the city had been rising, however, following the recent appointment of a Muslim politician as chairman of a state poverty-alleviation committee.
On Saturday, President Olusegun Obasanjo called out the army to try to quell the bloodshed, and appealed to community and religious leaders of Jos to restore peace.
On Sunday, police sealed off other areas and restricted travel in and out of some towns.
Acting Gov. Michael Bomang sent out what was described as an "S.O.S." to dozens of cities and towns across the state, telling them to act to safeguard lives within their own communities.