Muslim attacks incite violence in Nigeria

TUNGAN ROGO, Nigeria — Religious violence sparked by a Muslim cutting off a Christian’s hand Oct. 26 in Tungan Rogo village in Nigeria’s Niger State left three Christians dead and at least 13 others injured.

The violence destroyed 18 houses. Religious tensions in Niger state were already running high following a Sept. 21 attack by Muslims at the Bosso campus of the Federal University of Technology, Minna.

A group of Muslims, including at least one extremist brandishing a knife, broke into lecture halls at the school in an effort to enforce sharia, or Islamic law.

Joshua Ochoge, president of the Fellowship of Christian Students at the university, said students were in class “when suddenly, the fanatical Muslim students stormed the halls and began attacking Christian students. The situation later resulted in a fight between the fanatics and the Christian students.”