Women in the Nigerian city of Jos. Sporadic violence continued today after four days of deadly religious violence. Photo Credit: Missbax/Flickr

Occasional violent clashes continued to erupt today in areas surrounding the Nigerian city of Jos, following four days of intense fighting between Christians and Muslims and despite claims by the Nigerian military that the area is under control, reported Al Jazeera today. Jos was under a 24-hour military curfew yesterday.

Religious leaders reported hearing gunfire in the city outskirts, while local officials are still struggling to maintain order. Government reports state only 20 people have been killed; Mosque officials say more than 150 people have died in the conflict,  while still other reports put the number as high as 460.

Nigerian Senator Umaru Argungu asked that the region be put under a state of emergency, but the plea was unanimously rejected in the Senate, reported Nigerian paper This Day. Many senators praised the swift action of the Plateau State government, whose jurisdiction includes Jos, in clamping down on the violence with the curfew.

But Human Rights Watch warned of abuse, calling on the Nigerian military to “show restraint” in quelling violence, reported Al Jazeera.

Riots last broke out in the area in November 2008, following rumours that the Muslim-dominated party had lost a local election. The tension is mainly political, pitting the indigenous Christian community against the Muslim settlers, who in recent years have taken a number of government positions. This trend prompted fears that those in power would appoint their own people and exclude the Christian population.

The country as a whole has approximately equal numbers of Muslims and Christians.