Over 500 people were killed in northern Nigeria, mostly Muslim, in the violence that followed the presidential election on April 16, said Sunday, April 24 NGO Nigerian civil rights. Civil Rights Congress, based on figures collected in the field by his team, had previously reported about 250 dead. The Nigerian authorities have refused to provide a balance sheet, ostensibly to avoid aggravating tensions between communities.
"There could be much more" than the 516 deaths recorded, "we're still gathering data," said Shehu Sani, head of the NGO based in Kaduna State (north), one of the regions affected by the riots. He said the information which established the new record comes mainly from localities Zonkwa, Zangon-Kataf and Kafanchan, predominantly Christian.
The riots erupted after the victory in the presidential head of state out, Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from the South. He was opposed to 19 candidates among whom was the former military junta leader, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, a Muslim from the north, who contests the election results. According to the Nigerian Red Cross, the violence has caused displacement of some 74,000 people, many have sought refuge in army barracks and police stations.
Since Thursday, calm reigns in the country in favor of deploying the army and the introduction of curfews. But many Christians celebrated Easter Sunday in the caution, some agreeing to submit to metal detectors at the entrances to churches or attending mass in barracks or police stations in the North.
Defence Forces and security services are on alert, mobilized to prevent a new outbreak of violence after the elections of governors and assemblies planned Tuesday in two thirds of the 36 states. These elections, deemed high risk, have been shifted by two days - April 28 - in two northern states, Kaduna and Bauchi, because of violence post-presidential. 
"There could be much more" than the 516 deaths recorded, "we're still gathering data," said Shehu Sani, head of the NGO based in Kaduna State (north), one of the regions affected by the riots. He said the information which established the new record comes mainly from localities Zonkwa, Zangon-Kataf and Kafanchan, predominantly Christian.
The riots erupted after the victory in the presidential head of state out, Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from the South. He was opposed to 19 candidates among whom was the former military junta leader, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, a Muslim from the north, who contests the election results. According to the Nigerian Red Cross, the violence has caused displacement of some 74,000 people, many have sought refuge in army barracks and police stations.
Since Thursday, calm reigns in the country in favor of deploying the army and the introduction of curfews. But many Christians celebrated Easter Sunday in the caution, some agreeing to submit to metal detectors at the entrances to churches or attending mass in barracks or police stations in the North.
Defence Forces and security services are on alert, mobilized to prevent a new outbreak of violence after the elections of governors and assemblies planned Tuesday in two thirds of the 36 states. These elections, deemed high risk, have been shifted by two days - April 28 - in two northern states, Kaduna and Bauchi, because of violence post-presidential.
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