Fifteen arrested over deaths near Jos

Fifteen people were arrested in Nigeria after fresh violence near the city of Jos left three people dead on Saturday. Protestors angered by the deaths of the three Fulani herdsman took to the streets of Jos on Sunday.

There are unconfirmed reports of further deaths during the demonstrations.

The army says the herdsmen were murdered in the village of Tsung and had their bodies set on fire. The three men were reportedly killed while searching for lost cattle about 40 kilometres south of Jos.

Their deaths came just three days after authorities lifted an 18-month curfew.

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Q+A: Correspondent Amina Manu

Colonel Kayode Ogundele, operations director of a special military unit in central
Plateau State, told press agency AFP that more people could be arrested in connection with the case.

"Those arrested are helping us with our investigation," Ogundele said. "For sure, those found to have had a hand in the incident will face the law."

Hundreds of people have been killed in Jos in recent months and Amina Manu of RFI’s Hausa service says the latest violence could spark another crisis in the state capital.

“The youths were protesting, shouting 'we must take revenge',” he says. “Jos at the moment is quiet because most people have run away in fear of the crisis escalating.

“Certainly there is an indication that some political influences are playing their role in this crisis because of the rerun election that is likely to come in April."