Revenge in the Name of Religion

The Cycle of Violence in Plateau and KanoStates

I. Summary

II. Recommendations

To the Nigerian government and security forces

To religious and community leaders, at national, state and local levels

III. The Conflict in Plateau State

IV. The Conflict in Yelwa

1.Background

2.Violent conflict in Yelwa

2.1Violence on June 26, 2002

2.2The attack of February 24, 2004

2.3Other attacks: February to May 2004

2.4The attack of May 2-3, 2004

2.5The response of Christian representatives to the May 2-3 attack

2.6The response of the security forces

2.7Abduction of women and children and sexual abuse

2.8The aftermath of the May 2-3 attack

3.Internal displacement

V. The Government's Response to the Violence in Plateau State

1.The state of emergency

2. Peace initiatives

3.Commissions of inquiry

4.Arrests and prosecutions

VI. Revenge and Retaliation in Kano

1.Killings of Christians by Muslims

1.1Killings in Sharada

1.2Killings in Panshekara and other areas

2.The brutal response of the police and the military

3.Arrests and prosecutions

4.Internal displacement

VII. Conclusion

VIII. Acknowledgements