"They were all after us. None of us went home because we saw smoke from the distance and people running."
IIiya and his roommate both deny drawing any pictures of Mohammed, and they are being helped by Release International's Nigerian partners The Stefanos Foundation.
Release International is providing food, blankets and clothing to 121 Christians whose houses have been destroyed. The homeless include Christian policemen and women.
What sparked the rioting is still uncertain. As well as the suggestion that a cartoon was pinned to a mosque, other sources say a Christian youth wrote the name Jesus on a school blackboard, or that the riot erupted after mounting tensions over a newspaper cartoon published in Bangladesh which was considered offensive to Islam.
"If nine people can be murdered on a rumour, it just illustrates how volatile the situation is for Christians in parts of Nigeria," says Release International's CEO Andy Dipper. "We are providing help and support for the Christians who have been displaced and ask you to join with us in praying that this does not erupt into a widespread attack against Christians."
There have been reports that Muslim students plan to attack Christians in the Kuma area of Kano at the end of Ramadan. To prevent the current tension escalating, the Christian Association of Nigeria is calling for government intervention. More than 2000 Christians were killed in a previous outbreak of violence in Kano State in 2004.
Release International in partnership with Christian Solidarity Worldwide has just completed a major TV documentary on Nigeria, focusing on the aftermath of the Danish cartoon riots which claimed the lives of 65 Christians in Maiduguri.
The documentary, The Remains of the Day, provides moving examples of forgiveness and grace under extreme pressure.
Through its international network of missions Release International serves persecuted Christians in 30 countries, supporting pastors and Christian prisoners and their families, as well as supplying Christian literature and Bibles.
For more information please visit: www.releaseinternational.org
