LAGOS, Nigeria, May 18 (UPI) -- Religious conflicts that claimed hundreds of lives in central Nigeria have prompted officials to declare a state of emergency in the most violent area.
President Olusegun Obasanjo said there was a "near mutual genocide" in Plateau State, where Christians and Muslims are fighting over land and cattle, the BBC reported Tuesday.
Besides declaring a state of emergency in the state, he also suspended state governor Joshua Dariye, accusing him of being "weak and incompetent."
Dariye, who is from Obasanjo's People's Democratic Party, will be replaced by retired General Chris Ali for at least six months.
Hundreds of Muslims were killed by Christian militants in the town of Yelwa earlier this month. In February, Muslims raided a Christian church and killed 49 worshipers.
Since then, the violence has spread beyond Plateau State.
Last week, Muslim youths attacked Christians in the northern city of Kano, after Muslim groups held a march there to urge the government to take action in Plateau State.
At least 10,000 people have died in communal clashes since military rule ended in 1999, when Obasanjo was elected.
