Secretary-General Deeply Concerned by Inter-Religious Violence in Jos, Nigeria;

 

Appeals to All Concerned to Seek Peaceful Solutions to Religious Differences

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General has followed with deep concern reports of the outbreak of inter-religious violence in the central Nigerian city of Jos which resulted in significant loss of life and destruction of property.  The Secretary-General appeals to all concerned to exercise maximum restraint and to seek peaceful solutions to religious and other differences in the country.  In particular, he calls on all political and religious leaders in Nigeria to work together to address the underlying causes of the recurring sectarian violence in the country.

The Secretary-General takes note of the Federal Government’s expressed determination to find a permanent solution to the crisis in Jos and urges that every effort be undertaken to restore stability and avoid further deterioration of the situation.

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