Nigeria: 27 killed in religiously motivated violence since Monday.

In Nigeria, at least 27 people were killed in religiously motivated violence since Monday, as the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) announced on Wednesday in Göttingen. This increases the number of victims presumably killed by Boko-Haram and other sect supporters to at least 107 people since Christmas of 2011. "With great concern we also see that the mass exodus of Christians and Muslims continues, even though leading representatives of the State are urging people to stay calm and thoughtful," said the STP's Africa-consultant, Ulrich Delius. "However, given the escalation of violence, the risk of a civil war is increasing."

During an attack on an Apostolic church in Yola (State of Adamawa) in the northeast of the country on Monday (9th of January), twelve Christians were killed an five seriously injured. The assassins had entered the church and opened fire on the believers. Eleven people were killed instantly, another died from his injuries in hospital.

Three attackers – presumably members of the Boko-Haram sect – killed two people and injured three more on Monday night in the city of Maiduguri (Borno State). The Governor of the State had appealed to Christians and Muslims to keep peace only hours before.

Five Muslims died on Tuesday (10th of January) in Benin City (Edo State, southern Nigeria) when demonstrators tried to set a mosque and an Islamic school on fire. Ten people were also injured by demonstrators throwing stones.

In the city Damaturu (Yobe State, northern Nigeria), eight people were killed on Thursday night during a raid on a bar and other murderous assaults. Among the dead were four policemen and a seven year old child. Followers of the Boko Haram sect are probably responsible for the attacks.

Meanwhile, the mass exodus of Christians and Muslims from the areas where they are in the minority continues. Christian Ibo and Yoruba are still fleeing from the north. But even the Muslims in the south are uneasy. According to the Red Cross, there are 10,000 Muslims on the run in Edo State – and Muslims are also fleeing from Enugu State.