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NEWS RELEASE RE RECENT VIOLENCE AGAINST CHRISTIANS IN JOS, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

We have received reports over the last 24 hours of violent attacks on Christians in the city of Jos.

Reportedly Christians were going to or coming from their various church services on Sunday morning, when
near St Michael’s Roman Catholic Church in Nasarawa, Jos, about 200 Muslim youths who had been working on a
building site began molesting the Christians who were passing by. It was then revealed that some of these
youths were wearing military uniforms and were armed with machetes and guns. They blocked the road and
tension rose when the Christians tried to force their way along the main street.

Subsequently the Christians began to flee and fighting broke out. At least 20 people have reportedly been
confirmed dead (including some Muslims who died when the Christians defended themselves). There are also
reports that one other church has been attacked (details are awaited). Some 35 persons have so far been
arrested; these are mainly Muslims with weapons and military uniforms. Fighting and burning of properties has
now spread to other areas of the city.

Over the last 2 months, there has been concern over widespread rumours of plans to bomb the homes of
Christian leaders and to kill senior members of Christian churches.

At 5pm yesterday, 17 January, there were unconfirmed reports that 2 other churches had been attacked and were
burning: an ECWA (Evangelical Church of West Africa) and a COCIN (Church of Christ in Nigeria) Church.

(NB Jos was the scene of wide scale violence in November 2008 during which over one hundred people were
killed and many places of worship, predominantly Christian, were destroyed.)

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VIOLENCE AGAINST CHRISTIANS IN JOS, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA