The massacre is seen as revenge for a previous round of killings in January. Human Rights Watch says the violence has continued because no-one has been held accountable in the past and “it is time to draw a line in the sand”. Nigerian troops are patrolling the villages which were targeted on Sunday in a bid to prevent further violence.
Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has sacked the country’s national security adviser, Sarki Mukhtar in an apparent response to the killings. Some have questioned how the attack could have taken place when a military curfew has been in place since January, when at least 200 people died in clashes between rival Christian and Muslim groups.
“The Nigerian government should ensure that the perpetrators of acts of violence are brought to justice under the rule of law, and that human rights are respected as order is restored,” she said. The authorities say the villages are now calm after troops and military vehicles entered them.
He said he had received text messages from people who claimed responsibility for the weekend attacks and had threatened to return.
In January, religious leaders blamed inflammatory text messages for fuelling the violence. Clashes have broken out periodically since 2001, with competition for resources and political power seen as being at the heart of the conflicts between the rival communities.
