Reuters
18 February 2011
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Sule, whose wealth and status have made him an informal community leader, grows angry when he talks about the bloodshed, which he believes is deliberately provoked by politicians.
Sule, whose wealth and status have made him an informal community leader, grows angry when he talks about the bloodshed, which he believes is deliberately provoked by politicians.
"You see these politicians give these boys money, just 2,000-5,000 naira to kill people. They are pushing the poor into this," he said.
Rights groups say local government policies exacerbate the tensions by openly discriminating against "non-indigenes", making it harder for them to attend state-run universities and denying them the right to compete for government jobs.
In a region suffering from widespread poverty and unemployment, it is a dangerous strategy.
"Politics is everything," says Yakuba Pam, leader of charity Interfaith which works with Sule and other influential figures.
"When you create divisions you create support, and religion is the best way to get your message to the grass roots."
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