How the Nigeria crisis began

Stefanos Foundation investigated together with Plateau State Authorities and reports: 'The team met with eye witnesses and victims. Various accounts reveal that a man brought in over 200 Muslim men to rebuild his house on Sunday, 17th January, 2010. The house was one of those burnt during the November 2008 crisis. 200 Muslim men on Sunday morning is not a common sight in the area.

The builders working at the site kept chanting, referring to Non-Muslims as "Arna" (meaning infidels)". Tension mounted in the area and got out of control.

Unknown to all, the loud chants of "Allah a'khbar" had attracted other Muslims playing football to the area and worshippers in ECWA Church about 500m away were attacked.

The violence escalated with reports of fake soldiers appearing resulting in the bloodshed experienced in Jos and later its environs.

When Law Enforcement arrived on the spot, an eye witness reported that when the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3rd Armored Division of the Nigerian Army, Jos, came to investigate the matter while inspecting the burnt down church, gun shots came from the near by Muslim settlement, bringing down three Christian youths. The gunman was apprehended and handed over to the GOC but the man was set free. This made the villagers lose faith in the security operatives.