Days of deadly violence between Muslims and Christians in Nigeria last week was fuelled by inflammatory text messages, a religious leader has told the BBC. Rev Joseph Hayab said hundreds of texts circulated around the city of Jos – some … read more
The head of Nigeria’s army has pledged his commitment to protecting democracy and promised to stay out of politics at a time when President Umaru Yar’Adua’s two-month absence has raised questions about who is in charge. Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau, … read more
The two top political institutions of the Federal Republic struck in different directions yesterday with respect to President Umaru Yar’adua’s continuing absence from the country, with the Senate asking him to temporarily hand over power to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, … read more
A Nigerian naval spokesman says one of its helicopters crashed in the Niger Delta, likely killing the four people onboard. Commodore David Nabaida says the helicopter crashed Tuesday afternoon while searching for a ship that supposedly ran aground in the … read more
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton criticized Nigeria on Tuesday for corruption and poor living standards that she said encourage the sort of extremism typified by the attempted bombing of an American airliner. Speaking at a town hall meeting of … read more
TEXT messages that urged people to murder and then burn their victims’ bodies helped stoke inter-religious violence in central Nigeria that killed hundreds of people last week, police and rights activists said overnight. Rights activists have identified at least 145 … read more
Gunmen shot dead a prominent opposition politician in Nigeria’s southwestern Ogun State, police said Tuesday, amid rising tensions ahead of general elections next year. “Chief Dipo Dina was killed Monday night in Ota by unknown gunmen who ambushed his vehicle,” … read more
The Nigerian Senate, the upper chamber of parliament in the West African country, will continue a debate today on what action to take concerning the extended health-related absence of President Umaru Yar’Adua. The Senate met yesterday in a session that … read more
A coalition of former Nigerian militants and Niger Delta community leaders rejected on Monday government efforts to reintegrate thousands of ex-rebels, saying training centres and funding were inadequate. The dispute, if not resolved soon, could threaten President Umaru Yar’Adua’s popular … read more
More than 300 people have been arrested over clashes between Muslim and Christian communities in central Nigeria that left at least 326 people dead, police have said. Many of the suspects in the brutal attacks have been sent to Abuja, … read more