The violence began late last week amid charges that elections were rigged, the BBC reported Monday.

Hospitals in Jos were overwhelmed by the number of people injured in the fighting, medical officials told the British broadcaster.

"They are running short of medical supplies, the nurses are overwhelmed, they can't even efficiently attend to the wounded people who are being brought into the hospital," medical coordinator Francis Ayinzat said.

G.N.S. Pwajok, director general in the office of the Plateau State governor, told the BBC that people from Chad and Niger were fomenting the violence in Nigeria.

Fighting began Friday after the mostly Christian-backed governing party, the People's Democratic Party, was declared to have won the state elections in Plateau State, of which Jos is the capital.

The result was challenged by the opposition All Nigeria People's Party, a predominantly Muslim party.