Riots Continue in Nigeria As Peace Dialogue Underway

For decades, the tension between the Muslim and Christians has not resolved. Since 1999, ethnic and religious violence has killed more than 10,000 people in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country.

The high number of innocents is like an alarm to the Christian groups. In mid February, "Peace Making and Muslim-Christian Dialogue: Learning from the Example of the Inter-religious Council of Liberia" seminary was taken place. The peace dialogue has opened a possibility of establishing Muslim -Christian community groups that would respond to violence and injustices by using non- violent means.

However, continuous Muslim- Christian violence outbursts in Nigeria happened in February.

First happened in Nigeria Federal College of Education, the house of the school provost, who is known as a Christian, was burned down. The Muslim students also caused injuries to Christian staff and students. The investigation panel has looked into the problem but the final conclusion was not clear enough to explain the Muslim’s motivation.

The latest religious clashes on 19 February leave at least 48 people dead. The slaughter took place on a farming village in center Nigeria when Muslim militias attacked by guns and bowed and arrow. A Muslim gunman ambushed a police patrol car in return after a Christian militia killed 10 in a Muslim Village attack.

The place of incidence was in Yelwa, a mainly Christian town in Nigeria's Plateau State, so the destruction brought to Christians may be even more serious.