Officials say death toll is inflated

Aduba also told reporters that forty-nine members of the mainly Muslim Fulani clan, who were arrested after weekend attacks on Christian villages, are to be charged with murder.

Plateau state Governor Jonah David Jang has backed charges that loopholes in a curfew in Jos allowed Muslim Fulani clansmen to carry out the killings. He told RFI that he had received a report at 21h00 on Sunday that armed men were moving into the village. "I reported this to the commander of the army and he said he was going to move troops there," said Jang.

But Jang said he was awoken three hours later by a call that people had started burning the village and hacking up people. He tried to find the commanders by telephone, but couldn't get any to respond.

"State governors are highly incapacitated. You are the chief security officer of a state, you don't command even a fly," he said. He said he didn't even get  the security report officially, adding it was the villagers themselves who reported the violence.

The army must take full responsibility for the breakdown of security in the state, said Jang. "Security people have to double up their efforts, particularly the army, who said they are taking over security of Plateau state because the police are not able to cope."

Meanwhile, Nigerian lawmakers have called on acting president Goodluck Jonathan to set up a peace and reconciliation commission to end the cycle of violence in the state -- which lies midway between the predominantly-Muslim north and the Christian south.

The decision was reached after a 5-hour debate on the continuing political crisis.

"The truth and reconciliation commission is highly needed for people to come up and speak their minds," Doris Oboh, a lawmaker from Delta State told RFI.

"Reinforcement of military presence is needed to bring peace and secure the lives of Jos people," she added.

Pope Benedict denounced the "atrocious violence" in Nigeria and urged public and religious leaders to work towards security and peace.