More police to quell Nigeria unrest

By Barnaby Phillips in Makurdi, central Nigeria

Following an emergency meeting between the Nigerian government and local officials, more police reinforcements have been sent to an area in the centre of the country that has been badly affected by ethnic violence.

Tens of thousands have been displaced in the fighting, which is between the Tiv people and several other ethnic groups.

The Nigerian police are still struggling to cope with a bitter upsurge in ethnic fighting in which dozens have been killed.

At least 35,000 Tiv people have fled the troubled Nasarawa state and some are now living in squalid refugee camps to the south.

At one camp, thousands of people are sleeping in what was a primary school.

They are short of water and exhausted by their journey.

Bodies found

In the Nasarawa state capital, Lafia, there is still tension following the arrival on Tuesday of the bodies of 27 people, who local residents believe were murdered by Tivs.

The discovery of the bodies provoked rioting and there are rumours of retaliatory attacks on Tivs.

But the governor of Nasarawa told the BBC that with a greater police presence, the situation could be brought under control.

The conflict is as complex as the ethnic composition of central Nigeria.

Several Hausa-speaking ethnic groups in Nasarawa regard the Tivs as settlers and feel their control of land, chieftaincy titles and commerce is being threatened.