The killings began over the weekend between the Jukun people of Plateau state, a Muslim ethnic group, and the Tarok people, who are Christian.
A community leader for the Junkun, Jawka Baba, said late Monday the Tarok burned down homes in his village and killed six people. Jongle Lohbut, a Tarok community leader, said four people were killed by the Jukun.
A military spokesman said he was aware of the fighting between the two groups.
The attacks centred around the volatile city of Jos, where thousands have been killed since 1999. Religion, politics, grazing rights and economic power all play a role in the violence.
As a precautionary measure in preventing the escalation of the crisis to neighbouring villages, an emergency meeting among representatives of the Taroh, Jukun, Bogghom, Jama’atul nasril Islam, Hausa, Fulani and Jarawa communities.
According to the Plateau State commissioner of Information and Communications, Abraham Yiljap resolutions taken at the meeting include:
1. Stakeholders committed themselves to return home and speak to all other stakeholders to implement an immediate cessation of hostilities;
2. They condemned the illegal use of firearms and called on all communities to seek alternative and peaceful methods of conflict resolution;
3. They have resolved to fight criminality in all its manifestation such as looting of property, cattle rustling, armed robbery and to expose people involved in such acts for appropriate action;
4. Stakeholders also agreed to encourage communities to communicate useful information in a timely manner to the security agencies for immediate action;
5. They called on the appropriate government agencies to extend aid to the internally displaced persons who are taking refuse in different parts of the zone;
6. Traditional rulers were encouraged to see and treat all subjects within their areas of influence as their own, and avoid every form of discrimination.
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