Death Toll From Nigerian Ethnic Clashes at 100
VOA News
5 Feb 2002 13:57 UTC
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Nigerian health officials say the death toll has risen to at least 100 in three days of ethnic violence in the commercial capital, Lagos.

Troops remain on alert, with scattered incidents of violence reported Tuesday.

Witnesses say heavily armed soldiers and police conducted joint patrols in Lagos to end fighting between the northern Hausa and southern Yoruba ethnic groups. The violence has driven hundreds of people from their homes.

For the third straight day Monday, members of the two ethnic groups clashed with guns, machetes and other weapons and set fire to buildings. It is not clear what sparked the clashes.

The ethnic fighting is the latest blow to Nigeria, still reeling from the deaths of at least 1,000 people after last week's explosions at a Lagos munitions dump.

Some information for this report provided by AFP, Reuters and AP.

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