Catholics, Muslims clash after church, mosque set ablaze Sunday

JOS, Nigeria – Angry Muslim youths set a church filled with worshippers ablaze Sunday in Nigeria, starting a riot that killed at least 27 people and wounded more than 300 others, officials said Monday.

About 5,000 people lost their homes as rioters also burned mosques and houses in Jos, said Red Cross official Auwal Muhammad Madobi, who had no information about deaths.
Sani Mudi, a spokesman for the local imam, said 22 people died Sunday after rioters set fire to a Catholic church, starting a day-long wave of violence between Christians and Muslims. Five more died Monday from wounds.

Police arrested 35 people who they suspect took part in the rioting, Gregory Yenlong, a government spokesman, said. He said at least five of the men arrested were wearing fake
Nigerian military uniforms, and a dusk-to-dawn curfew would remain in place in Jos.

Muslim lawyer Ahmed Garba said he escaped being lynched by a group of Christian youths armed with bows and arrows, knives, stones and locally made firearms. He watched as they attacked and stabbed three people.