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Explosion Rocks Troubled Nigerian City

   VOA News  March 20, 2011
   In  this  image  taken  from  TV  showing  the  bodies  of  victims of
   inter-faith  violence  as  a crowd gathers around, in the town of Dogo
   Nahawa, Nigeria, south of the city of Jos (File Photo)

Photo: AP

   In  this  image  taken  from  TV  showing  the  bodies  of  victims of
   inter-faith  violence  as  a crowd gathers around, in the town of Dogo
   Nahawa, Nigeria, south of the city of Jos (File Photo)

   An  explosion  has  struck  a central Nigerian city plagued by chronic
   religious and ethnic violence.
   Witnesses  in  the  city  of Jos say the blast went off Sunday morning
   near  a  church.  Authorities blocked off the area but smoke could be
   seen rising from the neighborhood.
   There was no immediate word on casualties.
   Jos has experienced years of sectarian violence stemming from disputes
   over  land,  jobs,  and power. Thousands have been killed in recurring
   battles between gangs of Muslims and Christians.
   The  latest  wave  of  attacks  began  with  bombings on Christmas Eve
   (December 24) that killed several dozen people.
   Jos  sits  in Nigeria's so-called Middle Belt, where the mainly Muslim
   north meets the predominantly Christian south. Â
   Violence  across  central  and  northern  Nigeria  has  risen with the
   approach of nationwide elections next month.

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