500 Dead in Nigerian Postelection Violence

Nigeria’s most credible election in decades has come to a close, but the legitimacy of the process has failed to stem the violence. A local human rights group believes more than 500 people have been killed in postelection fighting.

The winner of the election, incumbent Goodluck Jonathan, is a Christian, while his defeated opponent, former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, is Muslim. —JCL

The Guardian:

More than 500 people were killed in post-election violence in the mostly Muslim north of Nigeria last week, a Nigerian human rights group said as it warned of further unrest during state elections.

Youths launched protests in northern towns and cities after President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from the south, was declared the winner of the 16 April election, defeating northern Muslim Muhammadu Buhari, the former military ruler.

Observers said the vote was the most credible in Nigeria for decades, and world leaders have congratulated Jonathan. But Buhari says the count was rigged, and his supporters have refused to accept defeat.

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AP / Sunday Alamba

A charred mosque in Kaduna, one of a number of Nigerian cities plagued by violence after the April 16 election.