Nigerian state lifts Miss World riots curfew

Nigeria's northern Nigeria Kaduna State has lifted a curfew imposed after riots over the Miss World contest killed 220 in November…

Nigeria's northern Nigeria Kaduna State has lifted a curfew imposed after riots over the Miss World contest killed 220 in November.

Miss World 2002 was to take place on December 7th in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, but was switched to Britain after the riots broke out in Kaduna.

The violence was sparked by a newspaper article that suggested that the Prophet Mohammed, Islam's most holy figure after God, might have enjoyed the show.

Many Muslims, who comprise around half of Nigeria's 120-million-strong population, had opposed the idea of hosting an event which they considered immodest and an afront to their beliefs.

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Following the riots Kaduna State state had imposed an indefinite curfew.

Kaduna is historically the political capital of northern Nigeria. In the past two decades, it has seen religious unrest in which thousands have died.

AFP