Wednesday, June 26, 2002 3:46 AM

A ministry of HCJB World Radio

RELIGIOUS, ETHNIC VIOLENCE CONTINUES TO PLAGUE NIGERIA Religious and ethnic violence between Muslims and Christians in Nigeria has continued in recent month as tensions rise in several states over regarding the use of Islamic law. On May 2 in Jos, Plateau state, 100 persons were feared dead when Muslims and Christians clashed during elections and ward congresses of Nigeria’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party. The following day Christian leaders in Bauchi state protested the imposition of the Islamic mode of dress, which included forcing Christian nurses and midwives to wear trousers while working at the Federal Medical Center in Azare. In Niger state, 75 Christians were arrested for opposing the state’s Islamic law. Eight unmarried Christian girls were arrested for not being married after having passed the marriageable age of 13 years prescribed by Islamic law. Rev. Emmanuel Kanu Mani, Anglican bishop of Maiduguri, added that on June 2 rebels from Chad were harassing Christians, killing some and looting their property. The raids into Borno state prevented evangelism by many clergymen, some of whom were forced to flee. (Compass)