KADUNA, Nigeria - the election of holders Goodluck Jonathan exposed gross gap in southern Nigeria primarily Christian and Muslim in the North, showing how quickly religious and economic tensions latent country can lead to violence.
Benedicte Kurzen/VII Nigerian youth network set fire Monday to a commission electoral construction in a predominantly Muslim region of Kaduna.Aid groups estimated Wednesday that more than 100 people were killed in violence that broke out in Northern Nigeria, after Mr. Jonathan, a Southern Christian, was elected with about 60% of the votes at the national level. Mr. Jonathan now has the difficult task to try to calm the nation the most populous of Africa and a growing destination for foreign investment.
The city of Kaduna has many of the problems that helped fuel unrest in the North of Nigeria, including high levels of poverty unemployment and youth. His neighbourhood West of Kabala, with, from small shops and one in the history of the houses is home to Christians and Muslims living together in relative peace.
On Saturday morning, nearly 1,000 voters gathered to vote in a predominantly Muslim part of Kabala West. A widespread rumour that Christian voters in the voting unit nearby prevented Muslim to enter the unit election observers.
Dozens of young Muslim men sweeps towards the nearest Church, saying that a ballot box was being hidden there. Arguments turned into shoving matches.
Police arrived, and then the military. The day of the vote taken.
The outbreak appeared to have triggered by misunderstanding of the young people of an agreement in this area had cut the political leaders with regard to observers that each party sends to monitor polling stations. According to residents and members of both major parties of Nigeria - Christians and Muslims - officers had agreed to maintain peace in the West of Kabala Saturday by only accepting members who were Muslims would not observe voting in Christian and Christian regions only would not enter in predominantly Muslim areas.
"There was a long-standing understanding in this area that the [Muslim] Hausa observers would not here come in the vote," said James Sako, a 59 year-old trader in a nearby Christian area.
As security forces is appeared to restore calm, election observers Christian and Muslim agreed to return to their posts.
But more late in the evening, unknown suspects threw a bomb in the hotel at night Happy on the Christian side of the district, injuring eight patrons, two critically.
He was one of many overflows in Kaduna, the site of several sectarian clashes during the past decade. Local government tried to reduce violence by separating Muslim and Christian, populations in part by encouraging Christian residents to move to the southern part of the city. Residents say that the steps worked in large part. But tensions can quickly turn in hand-to-hand combat.
In the vote of last Saturday, a group of young men who live in a Christian section off walls of Kabala West ran to points of entry with wooden clubs. Women shooed their children indoors. A man has interrupted his washing of clothes in the head inside and lock the door of his.
Sunday in Kaduna, vote results showed the main rival Jonathan that Mr., former leader military Muhammadu Buhari, won in the Northern States. His supporters celebrated.
But in the evening, national results revealed Mr. Jonathan sweep South and won the election. Celebrations turned to violence. Supporters of Mr. burned Buhari of the houses of the people, Christians and high-profile Muslim leaders, who were supposed to have supported by Mr. Jonathan.
Riots spread to the North of Nigeria, Monday and Tuesday at the beginning. Churches, mosques and houses were burned. Hundreds of people were injured and several thousands of displaced people, according to the Nigerian Red Cross, which has not published its final balance.
On Monday evening, Mr. Jonathan appealed for calm, in his acceptance speech in the capital, Abuja. But Nigeria has a raft of politicians who do not accept defeat lightly.
Party of Mr. Buhari Congress for progressive change, rejected most of the results, although the local and international election observers called it more credible election of the country for decades.
Mr. Buhari, who also contested elections in 2003 and 2007, has distanced himself and his party of violence. In a statement Wednesday, he told his supporters that "it is wrong to allow you to unbelievers to infiltrate your ranks and committing such vile acts as the senseless destruction of places of worship."
Residents of Kaduna said a curfew imposed by the Government, which has been eased slightly Wednesday, kept things quiet. Still, they fear what lies under the momentary calm.
Monday "was too crazy, it was almost of war, said Lalas Abba, 33 years old, who is a DJ at night of Happy Hotel hit the bomb." "" If you go outside, until you know, you can just get shot. ?
Muhammadu Buhari (file photo)