Nigeria: When Passions Spill Over

For almost 15 years, Nigerian officials have avoided taking a census for fear that religious passions would be inflamed by the probable discovery that Muslims, not Christians, now make up a majority of the population. No matter. Last week violence exploded anyway after a student in the northern city of Kafanchan criticized the Koran. Ensuing clashes between Muslim and Christian students led to a week of turmoil that left 13 dead, countless injured, 489 arrested and a trail of burned property, including twelve churches and two mosques in five cities. When peace was restored, officials blamed the unrest on "misguided elements" and denied that the trouble involved religious bigotry.