Emergency relief for Kaduna victims

The Kaduna state government has released some five million naira (US $50,000) to leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria and Jama'atu Nasril Islam (JNI) to enable them to provide interim measures to those displaced in the crisis following recent religious clashes, 'The Guardian' reported on Monday. A statement issued by the Information Ministry at the weekend urged the associations to ensure smooth distribution of relief items to the victims. It added that "medicines and food items have been distributed to various hospitals to assist the victims," and appealed to corporate bodies, wealthy Nigerians and international agencies to assist Kaduna State, 'The Guardian' reported on Monday. Violent clashes between Muslims and Christians started on 21 February following a march organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria in opposition to the proposed introduction of Islamic Sharia law in Kaduna State.