October 14, 2001	Sunday	Rajab 26, 1422

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KANO (Nigeria), Oct 13: Nigerian authorities clamped a night curfew on the northern city of Kano and issued a “shoot on sight” order after at least 20 people were killed in anti-American riots on Saturday, officials and residents said.

Tanks crisscrossed the streets of the largest city in mainly Muslim northern Nigeria to quell some of the most violent anti-American protests in Africa since US air strikes on Afghanistan began last Sunday.

Although the violence was linked to the bombardment of Afghanistan, it followed a familiar pattern of deadly religious clashes that have rocked Nigeria over the past two years, killing thousands.

“There is rampant shooting in the streets,” said resident Jibrin Idris, who said he was trapped in a building with scores of people in the commercial district. “Churches, mosques and shops are on fire. There is smoke everywhere,” he said by telephone.

As law and order broke down in the sprawling city, Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso went on state radio to announce dusk-to-dawn curfew and ppeal for calm.

Police earlier banned all vehicles from the streets on the second day of protests over US military action against the Taliban.

Nigeria’s population of over 110 million is divided almost evenly between Christians and Muslims.

Witnesses said five churches, the city’s central mosque and 15 smaller mosques were among the torched buildings.

SHOOT-ON-SIGHT ORDER: Kano’s police chief issued an order to shoot on sight rioters and other troublemakers.

“I have given an order that any rioter or anybody found perpetrating trouble should be shot on sight.”

“Non-indigenes or non-Muslims who are in Sabon Gari should conduct themselves in an orderly manner. We have moved in anti-riot police and tanks to ensure adequate protection.”

Mike Idika, a leader of the predominantly Christian Igbo community, which accounts for most of the city’s merchants, said more than 200 people had been injured and sent to hospital.

Community leaders in the city said rioters had killed at least six female secondary school students who were on their way to sit university entrance exams.

Police said they had also found two bodies in the street, one of them hacked by a machete. A witness said he was seeking refuge in a police station when an additional eight bodies were brought in.

The protests, which began after Friday prayers, were intended to be peaceful, but local residents said they were hijacked by hoodlums from the city’s army of unemployed youth.

The protesters chanted “May God destroy America!” and “Americans are terrorists”.

Protesters brandishing posters of Osama bin Laden burned American flags and effigies of US President George W. Bush and Nigerian Foreign Minister Sule Lamido, who has backed the US attacks.

A military guard was posted in front of Lamido’s home in Kano after reports that the protesters planned to burn it down. The minister’s staff said he was out of the country.

Relations between Kano’s Christian minority and Muslim majority have been on a knife-edge for months since the Kano state government began a crackdown on violations of Shariat. —Reuters