JOS, Nigeria – Nigerian authorities charged 20 people yesterday over their roles in sectarian clashes that killed hundreds in central Plateau state last month. Some could face the death penalty.
Authorities are under growing pressure to prosecute those behind the March 7th attacks on three villages near Jos, the capital of Plateau state, in a bid to prevent future violence.
More than 160 people were arrested. Police say more suspects will be charged in coming weeks, but Nigeria’s judicial system is known to be slow and it could take months before any are convicted.
Police said last week that of the 162 suspects arrested, they intended to charge 41 with terrorism and homicide, which are punishable by death. All 20 pleaded not guilty to five counts of arson, terrorism, killing, maiming and possession of dangerous weapons at a federal court in Jos.
Justice Stephen Adah ordered they remain in prison and adjourned the case until April 15th.
Fierce competition for control of fertile farmlands between Christian and animist indigenous groups and Muslim settlers from the arid north have repeatedly sparked unrest over the past decade in central Nigeria’s “Middle Belt”.
Those arrested in past violence have been freed after a few weeks, rights groups said. – (Reuters)
