The local chief of police explained to journalists that the violence allegedly broke out after the fake news got out about one of the city’s residents had insulted the Propher Mohammed with a blasphemous phrase.
According to witnesses, the young Muslims apparently also set fire to some shops owned by Christians.
The revolt takes place on the very day former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and the future leader of the Anglican Church, Justin Welby, launched a project of reconciliation between Muslims and Christians in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.
With 160 million inhabitants, Nigeria is Africa’s most densely populated country and is the continent’s main oil producing State.
Divisions between the country’s predominantly Muslim north and the Christian south have often led to episodes of serious violence.