After another weekend of sectarian violence in Jos, Nigeria, both Christian and Muslim leaders have urged communities to work towards peace.
Approximately 42 people were killed in these latest clashes after years of violence between the two religions in the area that has resulted in hundreds of deaths, and the displacement of thousands.
The Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Ignatius Kaigama, and a local Muslim leader, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, called for a Christian-Muslim dialogue to ease tensions, reports the BBC.
Nigeria’s army have threatened to use force to prevent further violence. Captain Charles Ekeocha of the government’s special task force confirmed that troops were now mandated to use all the necessary force within its powers on anybody carrying or using weapons.
Ekeocha asked those “having the false confidence of trying their hands on the might of the Nigerian military to retrace their steps, as the special task force will bring her might to bear on any persons or groups of persons.”
Three soldiers were also in the latest round of violence.
Experts believe that the violence is about more than religion, however, as ethnic, economic and political factors all feed the tension.
The Anglican Archbishop of Jos, Benjamin A. Kwashi, said in March 2010 that “those who have in the past used violence to settle political issues, economic issues, social matters, inter tribal disagreements, or any issue for that matter, now continue to use that same path of violence and cover it up with religion.”