LAGOS, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Troops had been seen in Nigeria's northern city of Jos after at least 500 were killed in a communal violence in the western African country, local residents witnessed on Monday.
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| This file photo taken on Jan. 21 shows the scene after a communal violence that takes place 30 km away from Nigeria's northern city of Jos. (Xinhua/AFP file photo) |
A resident in Plateau State, where the tragedy happened, said he had seen armored vehicles and military trucks arrive in the village along with patrolling troops.
The latest military move came after a Nigerian government official confirmed on Monday that at least 500 had been killed in a communal clash in Jos, which followed the crisis on Jan. 17 in the same region when some youths attacked worshippers at St. Michael's Anglican Church in Nasawara Gwom.
Police spokesman in Plateau State Muhammed Lerama has confirmed the latest incident and said the acting Commissioner of Police in the state, Ikechukwu Aduba, would address the press on the crisis on Monday.
Meanwhile, the country's newly appointed Acting President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday said all the security services in northern Plateau State and neighboring states should be on red alert so as to stem any cross border dimensions to this latest conflict.
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Backgrounder: Sectarian violence in Nigeria
