Lagos: An international human
rights group says at least 800 people died in election-related
violence that swept across northern Nigeria.
Human Rights Watch said in a statement on Monday that last
month`s elections in Nigeria "were heralded as among the
fairest in the country, but they were also the bloodiest."
Authorities had previously estimated that at least 500
were killed but had hesitated to release an official toll for
fear of provoking retaliatory violence.
Protesters in Nigeria`s predominantly Muslim north
took to the streets as results showed the winner was President
Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from the south.
Many northerners believed someone from their region
should be the next leader after the Muslim president died in
office.
PTI
