Rights group: Nigeria security forces killed more than 130 civilians in November clashes
By APMonday, July 20, 2009
Rights group: Nigeria forces killed 130 civilians
JOHANNESBURG — An international rights group says the Nigerian government should investigate security officials for allegedly killing more than 130 people during mob violence in November.
Human Rights Watch researcher Eric Guttschuss says witnesses saw police and soldiers shoot unarmed people during a two-day outburst of violence in Jos, capital of Nigeria’s Plateau state. More than 300 people died. The New York-based group released a report Monday documenting the killings and an order from the state’s governor to shoot participants on sight.
The fighting began as clashes between supporters of the region’s two main political parties following the first local election in more than a decade. It expanded along ethnic and religious lines, pitting Christians against Muslims.
