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05/07/2004:

"Nigerian Muslims bury 600 after Christian slaughter"

Reuters in Yelwa
The Guardian

A Muslim community leader in the Nigerian town of Yelwa said yesterday that 630 bodies had been buried there after an attack by Christian militia on Sunday. The previous estimate of the death toll was 300.

Survivors of the attacks said many people were still missing and the final death toll could reach 1,000. Another 600 were said to be seriously wounded.

"We buried a total of 630 people yesterday, 1,500 people were injured and 600 were taken for emergency treatment," the community leader, Abdullahi Abdullahi, said.

There was no independent confirmation of the toll. Many residents fled Yelwa after the attack. www.guardian.co.uk

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Friday, May 7th, News Update posted:

Toll 'hits 630' in Nigeria attack
A Muslim community leader in the Nigerian town of Yelwa says 630 corpses have been buried after an attack by Christian militia, and survivors says the final toll may reach 1000.

Police have spoken only of "hundreds" killed in the attack on Sunday, but access to the remote farming town has been very limited because of the threat of reprisals.

"We buried a total of 630 people yesterday, 1500 people were injured and 600 were taken for emergency treatment," said community leader Abd Allahi Abd Allahi. english.aljazeera.net