Calm follows sectarian violence in Nigeria

JOS, Nigeria, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Residents were returning to the central Nigerian city of Jos after calm was restored following days of deadly sectarian fighting, the government said.

Officials said four days of sectarian violence killed at least 200 people and injured more than 1,000, Voice of America reported Friday.

A 24-hour curfew was eased so people could return to their homes and stock up on supplies, officials said, adding troops and police were patrolling the streets of Jos to prevent further outbursts.

The fighting was between indigenous Christians and Muslim settlers.

The International Red Cross said an estimated 17,000 people were displaced, VOA said.

Nigerian Interior Minister Shetima Mustapha said security forces were in control.

"As of now, security agencies are on top of the situation," Mustapha said. "And of course we will continue to pray that these things should subside and never shall we see this kind of thing in this country. But I want people to rest assured that the government is doing everything possible to control the situation."

The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria called on the government to prosecute those responsible for the violence, saying in a statement it condemned "mob violence in the strongest possible terms."