Many died in clashes in Nigerian city19 Jan, 2010, JOS, Nigeria

More than 400 Nigerians are killed and many got injured clashes between Muslim and Christian gangs in the central city of Jos. The governor of Plateau state sent extra security forces to the state capital so as to prevent a repetition of clashes in November 2008, where hundreds of the residents were killed in the country’s worst sectarian fighting in years.

This week’s violence erupted after the argument between Muslim and Christian neighbors over the rebuilding of homes that were destroyed in the 2008 clashes. The fighting is unlikely to have a big impact on the sub-Saharan Africa’s second biggest economy. Its oil industry is in the south and its banking sector mainly in the commercial hub Lagos. Police said that calm had been restored in most neighborhoods in Jos but residents claim to hear sporadic gunfire and see smoke from the burning houses and churches.

The Vice-President, Good luck Jonathan ordered the troops and top security chiefs to Jos to restore calm, in his first use of executive power since President Umaru Yar’Adua left Nigeria for treatment at an overseas hospital nearly two months ago. A Red Cross spokesman said that around 2,000 residents had left their homes and taken shelter at a nearby College. Some were injured with machete and gunshot wounds.